Abstract: A method for the enhanced recovery of oil comprised of injecting into an oil containing formation an aqueous surfactant system comprised of a blend of an oil soluble amine, a lignin selected from the group consisting of lignosulfonates and sulfonated alkali and soda lignins, and a water soluble anionic or non-ionic surfactant and water; driving the surfactant system through the formation and producing the oil mobilized by the surfactant system. A surfactant composition useful for enhanced oil recovery methods comprised of an oil soluble amine, a lignin, and a water soluble anionic or non-ionic surfactant.

Abstract: A method for the enhanced recovery of oil comprised of injecting into an oil containing formation an aqueous surfactant system comprised of a blend of an oil soluble amine, a lignin selected from the group consisting of lignosulfonates and sulfonated alkali and soda lignins, and a water soluble anionic or non-ionic surfactant and water; driving the surfactant system through the formation and producing the oil mobilized by the surfactant system. A surfactant composition useful for enhanced oil recovery methods comprised of an oil soluble amine, a lignin, and a water soluble anionic or non-ionic surfactant.

Abstract: The invention is a method of recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, in which a saline polymer slug containing about 0.1% to about 3.0% of a drive fluid additive is injected into the formation after the injection of a saline surfactant slug. The drive fluid additive has the structure:R(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.n H.sub.y (SO.sub.3 M).sub.xwhere R is a phenol, an alkylphenol having up to about 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, or the product of reduction of lignin in the presence of carbon monoxide or hydrogen at a temperature greater than about 200.degree. C. and a pressure greater than about 100 psi, n has an average value of about 5 to about 30, x is 0 or 1, y is 1 if x is O, y is O if x is 1, and M is an alkali metal or ammonium ion.

Abstract: A method of producing surfactants from lignin is disclosed by reducing lignin in the presence of a carbon monoxide or hydrogen reducing agent at high temperature and pressure to produce low molecular weight lignin phenols and subjecting the lignin phenols to one or a combination of several reactions such as alkoxylation, alkylation, sulfonation, sulfation, alkoxysulfation, and sulfomethylation. The lignin surfactants so produced can be employed in a surfactant system to recover oil from underground formations.

Abstract: The invention is a method of recovering hydrocarbons with a surfactant flooding system, wherein the surfactant slug comprises about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of an alkylphenol lignin surfactant. The alkylphenol lignin surfactant is produced by reacting an alkylphenol having about 6 to about 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain with formaldehyde in basic solution at a temperature of about 50.degree. to about 120.degree. C. for about 15 minutes to about 3 hours to form a first reaction product. The first reaction product is then reacted with a kraft lignin in solution at a temperature of about 100.degree. to about 160.degree. C. for about 30 minutes to about 5 hours to form an alkylphenol lignin reaction product.

Abstract: The invention is a method of recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which employs the steps of injecting a lignin amine surfactant slug, injecting an aqueous buffer slug of low salinity containing a polyacrylamide, injecting a high salinity aqueous drive fluid with polysaccharide, and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from the formation through a production well. The lignin amine surfactant slug is comprised of lignin, a primary amine having about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and a sulfonate surfactant having an equivalent weight between about 200 and about 400 in the relative concentrations of about 1% to about 20% by weight of amine, about 10% to about 80% by weight of lignin, and about 10% to about 75% by weight of sulfonate surfactant.

Abstract: A method of producing surfactants from lignin is disclosed by reducing lignin in the presence of a carbon monoxide or hydrogen reducing agent at high temperature and pressure to produce low molecular weight lignin phenols and subjecting the lignin phenols to one or a combination of several reactions such as alkoxylation, alkylation, sulfonation, sulfation, alkoxysulfation, and sulfomethylation. The lignin surfactants so produced can be employed in a surfactant system to recover oil from underground formations.

Abstract: A method of enhanced oil recovery comprising injecting a surfactant system comprised of an oxidized alkali lignin and an anionic and/or nonionic surfactant into a formation containing oil and producing the oil thus mobilized.

Abstract: A method for the enhanced recovery of oil comprised of injecting into an oil containing formation a surfactant system comprised of an oil soluble amine modified lignin and an anionic or nonionic surfactant; driving the surfactant system through the formation and producing the oil mobilized by the surfactant system. A surfactant composition useful for enhanced oil recovery methods comprised of an oil soluble amine modified lignin and an anionic or nonionic surfactant.