Abstract: Probes previously used only in polar systems are used to detect the presence of foam in nonpolar systems, such as hydrocarbon systems. The probes are used to detect the present of foam in high pressure separating equipment and to notify the operator of such equipment that a foaming condition exists. In response, the operator can either increase or decrease the amount of defoaming chemicals being added to the separator or the flowrate of the defoaming chemical is automatically changed to a predetermined flow rate. The probes may also be used to determine the amount of gas that is trapped or entrained in the crude oil.

Abstract: Several copolymers of aspartic acid and another monomer provide effective mild steel corrosion inhibitors and scale formation inhibitors under oil field conditions. The copolymers are polymers of modified polyaspartic acid mer units and polyaspartic acid mer units. The resulting polymers are biodegradable.

Abstract: The deposition of elemental sulfur in a conduit through which a sulfur containing gas is flowing is reduced by providing, as a novel sulfur dispersant, an ether alcohol component produced from primary alcohol and epichlorohydrin mixed with an aliphatic amine component, the dispersant being employed in the presence of liquid water. When the conduit is normally vulnerable to the corrosion caused by contact with the sulfur-containing gas, the sulfur dispersant is optionally employed in conjunction with a corrosion inhibitor.

Abstract: A method of removing from and preventing scale from depositing in underground petroleum containing formations and upon equipment used to inject high brine scale forming waters into such formations which comprises treating such waters with a scale inhibiting amount of an acrylic acid polymer which contains from 0-95 mole percent of acrylamide and from 1-30 mole percent of amido C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl phosphonate groups from the group consisting of:a) Amidomethyl phosphonate groups,b) Alpha-hydroxy-beta-amidoethyl phosphonate groups,c) Alpha-hydroxy-beta-amidoisopropyl phosphonate groups, and,d) Amidopropyl phosphonate groups said polymer having a molecular weight range between 1,000-100,000.

Abstract: A method of preventing scale from depositing in underground petroleum-containing formations and upon equipment used to inject into or remove from such formations high brine, scale-forming waters. This method comprises treating such waters with a scale-inhibiting amount of an acrylic acid or acrylamide homopolymer or co-polymer of acrylic acid with acrylamide having a molecular weight within the range of 1,000-50,000 which have been modified to contain up to about 30 mole percent of amido(C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkyl)phosphinic acid groups and the alkali metal, ammonium and amine salts thereof.

Abstract: A method of preventing the formation of barium sulfate scale deposited by aqueous produced or injection fluids having a pH below 7.5 which are recovered with or are used to recover petroleum from underground formations which comprises treating these aqueous fluids with a low molecular weight polyvinyl sulfonate which has a molecular weight within the range of between 500-10,000.