Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrocarbon recovery composition, which composition contains: a) a first propoxylated primary alcohol sulfate; and b) a second propoxylated primary alcohol sulfate, and the first and second propoxylated primary alcohol sulfate are different. Further, the invention relates to an injectable liquid containing the hydrocarbon recovery composition and a method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrocarbon recovery composition, which composition contains: a) a first anionic surfactant which is a propoxylated primary alcohol sulfate; and b) a second anionic surfactant which alkoxylated primary alcohol sulfate selected from the group consisting of (i) an ethoxylated primary alcohol sulfate and (ii) an ethoxylated-propoxylated primary alcohol sulfate. Further, the invention relates to an injectable liquid containing the hydrocarbon recovery composition and a method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrocarbon recovery composition, which composition contains: a) a first anionic surfactant which is selected from the group consign of a propoxylated primary alcohol carboxylate or a propoxylated primary alcohol glycerol sulfonate; and b) a second anionic surfactant which is an alkoxylated primary alcohol carboxylate or an alkoxylated primary alcohol glycerol sulfonate selected from the group consisting of (i) an ethoxylated primary alcohol carboxylate, (ii) an ethoxylated-propoxylated primary alcohol carboxylate, (iii) an ethoxylated primary alcohol glycerol sulfonate and (iv) an ethoxylated-propoxylated primary alcohol glycerol sulfonate. Further, the invention relates to an injectable liquid containing the hydrocarbon recovery composition and a method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising the following steps: a) providing a composition comprising a surfactant to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the surfactant is a compound of the formula (I) R—O—[R?—O]x—X wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group, R?—O is an alkylene oxide group, x is the number of alkylene oxide groups R?—O, and X is a group comprising a carboxylate moiety; b) allowing the surfactant from the composition to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation; c) recovering from the hydrocarbon containing formation an emulsion comprising hydrocarbons, water and the surfactant; and d) adding an acid to the emulsion thus recovered.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising: a) providing an aqueous composition which comprises i) a surfactant of the formula R—O—[R?—O]x—X wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group, R?—O is an alkylene oxide group, x is the number of alkylene oxide groups R?—O, x is 0 or greater than 0, and X is a sulfate moiety; ii) an acid which has a pKa between 6 and 12; and iii) the conjugate base of the acid mentioned under ii), to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, by combining the aqueous composition with a hydrocarbon removal fluid to produce an injectable fluid, wherein the hydrocarbon removal fluid comprises 1) water and 2) divalent cations in a concentration of 100 or more parts per million by weight (ppmw), and injecting the injectable fluid into the hydrocarbon containing formation; and b) allowing the surfactant from the injectable fluid to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising the following steps: a) providing a composition, which comprises a surfactant which is a compound of the formula (I) R—O—[R?—O]x—X, wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group having a weight average carbon number of from 13 to 30, R?—O is an alkylene oxide group, x is the number of alkylene oxide groups R?—O, and X is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a group comprising a sulfate moiety; (ii) a group comprising a carboxylate moiety; and (iii) a group comprising a sulfonate moiety, to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the hydrocarbon containing formation comprises a crude oil which has a weight ratio of saturates to aromatics of from 0.6 to 5.0; and b) allowing the surfactant from the composition to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising the following steps: a) providing a composition comprising two or more surfactants to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation having a salinity, wherein said two or more surfactants are selected such that the salinity range within which the interfacial tension between water and the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation can be reduced to a certain level is widened as compared to the cases wherein only one of said two or more surfactants is used; and b) allowing said two or more surfactants from the composition to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to nonyl alcohols with a low degree of branching and derivatives produced using them. In particular the present invention relates to mixture of primary nonyl alcohols in which at least 80% of the alkyl chains are linear and at least 15% of the alkyl chains are branched at the 2-carbon position and its derivatives. The low degree of branching produces derivatives that are more elongated and less bulky that similar derivatives produced with more highly branched alcohols.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation. The method comprises providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising a mixture of branched internal olefin sulfonate molecules, and contacting hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation with the hydrocarbon recovery composition. The mixture of branched internal olefin sulfonate molecules has an average number of carbon atoms of between 19 and 23, and an average number of branches of at least 0.6 per molecule. A hydrocarbon composition produced from a hydrocarbon containing formation, and a hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising a mixture of branched internal olefin sulfonate molecules are also provided.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon recovery composition which comprises a first blend of C24-28 internal olefin sulfonates and an injectable fluid composition comprising the hydrocarbon recovery composition, water and/or brine wherein the hydrocarbon recovery composition is present in an amount of from 0.05 to 1.0 wt % of the total injectable fluid composition can be used for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from a formation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an internal olefin sulfonate composition, comprising water and an internal olefin sulfonate mixture having an average carbon number of at least 20, wherein the internal olefin sulfonate mixture comprises hydroxy sulfonates and alkene sulfonates in a weight ratio of hydroxy sulfonates to alkene sulfonates of at least 3.25. The invention further provides a method of treating a crude oil containing formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing an internal olefin sulfonate, comprising sulfonating an internal olefin, having an average carbon number that is equal to or greater than 20, in a sulfonation reactor into sulfonated internal olefin followed by contacting sulfonated internal olefin with a base containing solution, wherein the sulfonation reactor is cooled with a cooling means having a temperature which is greater than 35° C. Further, the invention relates to an internal olefin sulfonate obtainable by said process, and to use of internal olefin sulfonates obtainable or obtained by said process as a surfactant, suitably as a surfactant in chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery.

Abstract: The invention relates to nonyl alcohols with a low degree of branching and derivatives produced using them. In particular the present invention relates to mixture of primary nonyl alcohols in which at least 80% of the alkyl chains are linear and at least 15% of the alkyl chains are branched at the 2-carbon position and its derivatives. The low degree of branching produces derivatives that are more elongated and less bulky that similar derivatives produced with more highly branched alcohols.

Abstract: A method of treating a formation containing crude oil with specific solubility groups and chemical families is described. The method includes (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of a formation containing crude oil with specific solubility groups and chemical families, wherein the composition comprises a C24-28 internal olefin sulfonate; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the crude oil containing formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to nonyl alcohols with a low degree of branching and derivatives produced using them. In particular the present invention relates to mixture of primary nonyl alcohols in which at least 80% of the alkyl chains are linear and at least 15% of the alkyl chains are branched at the 2-carbon position and its derivatives. The low degree of branching produces derivatives that are more elongated and less bulky that similar derivatives produced with more highly branched alcohols.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising the following steps: a) preparing an internal olefin sulfonate, comprising sulfonating an internal olefin into sulfonated internal olefin followed by contacting sulfonated internal olefin with a base containing solution resulting in the internal olefin sulfonate, wherein sulfonated internal olefin is contacted with the base containing solution in the presence of a non-ionic surfactant, and/or after step a) but before step b), the internal olefin sulfonate and said non-ionic surfactant are combined; b) transporting an aqueous solution comprising the internal olefin sulfonate and the non-ionic surfactant to the location of the hydrocarbon containing formation; c) providing the internal olefin sulfonate and the non-ionic surfactant to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation; and d) allowing the internal olefin sulfonate and the non-ionic surfactant to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon c

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing an internal olefin sulfonate, comprising sulfonating an internal olefin, having an average carbon number that is equal to or greater than 20, in a sulfonation reactor into sulfonated internal olefin followed by contacting sulfonated internal olefin with a base containing solution, wherein the sulfonation reactor is cooled with a cooling means having a temperature which is greater than 35° C. Further, the invention relates to an internal olefin sulfonate obtainable by said process, and to use of internal olefin sulfonates obtainable or obtained by said process as a surfactant, suitably as a surfactant in chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery.

Abstract: A method of treating a very high salinity high temperature hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method includes (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon containing formation having a brine salinity of above about 13 wt % and a temperature of above about 7° C., wherein the composition comprises a C15-18 internal olefin sulfonate; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising an anionic surfactant, wherein said composition is in the solid state, and to a shaped article comprising said composition. Preferably, said composition is in the form of a powder. Further, the invention relates to a process for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation comprising the steps of a) transporting said composition or shaped article to the location of the hydrocarbon containing formation; b) dissolving said composition or shaped article in water thereby forming an aqueous fluid containing the hydrocarbon recovery composition; c) providing the aqueous fluid containing the hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation; and d) allowing the hydrocarbon recovery composition to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating a formation containing crude oil hydrocarbons, comprising injecting an aqueous composition comprising an internal olefin sulfonate with a nominal carbon chain length between 24 to 44 into said formation and displacing said crude oil hydrocarbons toward one or more production wells. The invention further provides a method for treating a formation containing crude oil hydrocarbons, a method for improving the wettability of a subsurface surface in an subsurface formation containing crude oil hydrocarbons, and a method for separating crude oil hydrocarbons from crude oil hydrocarbons compositions.