Abstract: The invention relates to the use of at least one compound corresponding to the formula below: R—O—(—CH2—CH(—CH3)—O—)m—(—CH2—CH2—O—)n—H in which: R is a hydrocarbon-based group comprising from 6 to 40 carbon atoms; m is a number ranging from 0 to 20; n is a number greater than 20; for inhibiting the anionic-surfactant retention phenomena in an oil reservoir, especially in a carbonate-based or argillaceous reservoir.

Abstract: Compositions suitable for enhanced oil recovery comprising a) a mixture of a-sulfocarbonyl compounds of from 1:99 to 99:1 wherein R1, R3 and R5, which may be the same or different at each occurrence, are hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl chain having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, R2 and R4, which may be the same or different at each occurrence, may be a linear or branched alkyl group having 4 to 24 carbon atoms and in which the alkyl chain may comprise one or more cycloaliphatic groups, and X is H or a metal forming a salt with the sulfonate group, and b) a salt containing aqueous solution.

Abstract: The inhibition of anionic surfactant retention phenomena in an oil reservoir, especially in a carbonate-based or argillaceous reservoir, by the use of at least one compound corresponding to the formula R—O-(A)m-H, in which R is a hydrocarbon-based group comprising from 6 to 40 carbon atoms, A is a hexose or pentose unit, and m is a non-zero number ranging from 1 to 10, is described herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of an aminosulphonate compound corresponding to the following formula (I): R1R2N—CHR3—CHR4—CHR5—SO3? (I) where: R1 is a preferably C2 to C24 alkyl or alkylamido radical; R2 is an optionally hydroxylated alkyl radical; R3, R4 and R5 are, independently of one another, H or OH; it being understood that at least one of the R3, R4 and/or R5 groups is OH, for stabilizing a foam, in particular a foam used to extract hydrocarbons in an underground formation.

Abstract: Provided is a process of enhanced oil recovery from an oil reservoir of an underground formation by using a compound of formula (I) to inhibit the phenomena of retention of anionic surfactants within an oil-bearing reservoir, such as a carbonate or clay reservoir: R—O—(—CH2—CH(—CH3)—O—)m—(—CH2—CH2—O—)n—H, wherein: R is a hydrocarbon-based group comprising from 6 to 40 carbons; m ranges from 0 to 20; n is greater than m and ranges from 5 to 40.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the use of at least one compound corresponding to the formula below: R—O-(A)m-H in which: R is a hydrocarbon-based group comprising from 6 to 40 carbon atoms, A is a hexose or pentose unit, m is a non-zero number ranging from 1 to 10, for inhibiting the anionic-surfactant retention phenomena in an oil reservoir, especially in a carbonate-based or argillaceous reservoir.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of at least one compound corresponding to the following formula: R—O—(—CH2-CH(CH3)-O-)m-(—CH2-CH2-0-)u-H where: R is a hydrocarbon-based group comprising from 6 to 40 carbons; m ranges from 0 to 20; n, which is greater than m, ranges from 5 to 40, in order to inhibit the phenomena of retention of anionic surfactants within an oil-bearing reservoir, in particular within a carbonate or clay reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the enhanced recovery of oil from an underground formation, in which a viscoelastic aqueous fluid comprising at least one viscosifying zwitterionic surfactant is injected into the said formation and the said fluid is conducted through this formation in order to displace the oil from the formation and to recover it via a different point from that where the viscoelastic aqueous fluid was introduced, characterized in that the said fluid exhibits an amount of a base sufficient to bring its pH to a value of greater than 10, preferably of between approximately 11 and 13.

Abstract: A method for recovering oil from a fractured reservoir having an oil-wettable matrix and comprising at least one injection well and one production well. This method comprises the following steps in such order: a)injecting by an injection well a solution of viscosity-enhancing surfactants, capable of penetrating into the array of fractures, having limited interaction with the matrix, and creating a plug in situ to reduce the perviousness of the fractures and to promote the passage of the solution of step b) into the matrix; b) injecting by an injection well a solution of surfactants, capable of interacting with the matrix to make water-wettable and to extract the oil therefrom; c) injecting by an injection well an aqueous solution to increasing the surface tension, impregnating the matrix and, after the plug in step a) is dissolved by the oil, driving the oil toward the production well.

Abstract: A method for enhancing foam stability in foaming compositions for use in oilfield treatment application, including but not limited to use in mobility control for gas flooding. The method comprises the step of adding to a foaming composition a foam stabilizer of formula (I): wherein R1 is an alkylamido group or a branched or linear alkyl group; R2 and R3 are individually hydrogen or a methyl group; R4, R5 and R6 are individually hydrogen or a hydroxy group, with the proviso that at least one of R4, R5 or R6 is a hydroxyl group; wherein the alkyl group has greater than about 10 carbon atoms. Also disclosed are methods to enhance foam stability in an aqueous foaming composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the assisted recovery of crude oil from an underground formation, comprising: a) injecting, via at least one injection means in contact with the underground formation containing the crude oil, a liquid containing a mixture of at least: i) a salty aqueous medium, ii) a mixture of two zwitterionic viscosising surfactants or a mixture of two populations of said surfactants having a bimodal characteristic of the narrow distribution of Ri groups as defined below, in a weight content of between 1 and 0.05 wt %, preferably between 0.5 and 0.1 wt %, and more preferably between 0.4 and 0.15 wt %, such that the liquid has an oil/water interface tension of about 10 mN/m (milinewton per meter) or less as measured at room temperature (25° C.) and a viscosity of about 3 cPs or more as measured at a temperature of 80° C.

Abstract: A method for enhancing recovery of oil from an oil-bearing carbonate formation within a reservoir. The method has the steps of (a) introducing a viscous gel under pressure into the oil-bearing carbonate formation and (b) extracting oil. The aqueous viscous gel has water and an amount of a non-polymeric viscosifying surfactant sufficient to provide the flooding fluid with an oil/water interfacial surface tension of about 10 mN/m or less and a viscosity of about 10 cP or more of the one or more non-polymeric surfactants. The one or more non-polymeric, viscosifying surfactants is selected from the group of one or more cationic surfactants, one or more zwitterionic surfactants, one or more anionic surfactants, one or more amphoteric surfactants, and combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the aqueous viscous gel is also substantially free of solids.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the preparation of an aqueous dispersion of coacervates having a core-shell structure, the core (a) being an inorganic particle being anionic or cationic and the shell (b) being a copolymer wherein said copolymer comprises at least two parts, A and B, part A being cationic if particle (a) is anionic, and anionic if particle (a) is cationic, and part B being neutral in pH conditions of said dispersion. More particularly, the invention is directed to treating compositions comprising that aqueous dispersion of coacervates delivering antifouling, water sheeting, antisoiling, anti-adhesion, adhesion, anti-deposition, and/or anti-UV properties onto all kinds of surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recovering oil from a fractured reservoir having an oil-wettable matrix and comprising at least one injection well and one production well, both of which arc in communication with the fractures and the matrix, wherein the method comprises the following steps in the following order: a) during a first stage, the injection, by an injection well, of a solution of viscosity-enhancing surfactants, capable of penetrating into the array of fractures, having limited interaction with the matrix, and creating a plug in situ so as to substantially and selectively reduce the perviousness of the fractures and to promote the passage of the solution of step b) into the matrix; b) during a second stage, the injection, by an injection well, of a solution of surfactants, capable of interacting with the matrix in order to make same preferably water-wettable and to extract the oil therefrom, said solution preferably flowing through the matrix; and after a latency period of at least 24 hours,

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for controlling the stability or the droplets sized of simple water-in-oil emulsions, wherein a di-block or tri-block copolymer is used. A block is a hydrophilic block, the other block is a hydrophobic block. The invention concerns also a stabilized water-in-oil emulsion.

Abstract: A method for enhancing foam stability in foaming compositions for use in oilfield treatment application, including but not limited to use in mobility control for gas flooding. The method comprises the step of adding to a foaming composition a foam stabilizer of formula (I): wherein R1 is an alkylamido group or a branched or linear alkyl group; R2 and R3 are individually hydrogen or a methyl group; R4, R5 and R6 are individually hydrogen or a hydroxy group, with the proviso that at least one of R4, R5 or R6 is a hydroxyl group; wherein the alkyl group has greater than about 10 carbon atoms. Also disclosed are methods to enhance foam stability in an aqueous foaming composition.

Abstract: A method for enhancing recovery of oil from an oil-bearing carbonate formation within a reservoir. The method has the steps of (a) introducing a viscous gel under pressure into the oil-bearing carbonate formation and (b) extracting oil. The aqueous viscous gel has water and an amount of a non-polymeric viscosifying surfactant sufficient to provide the flooding fluid with an oil/water interfacial surface tension of about 10 mN/m or less and a viscosity of about 10 cP or more of the one or more non-polymeric surfactants. The one or more non-polymeric, viscosifying surfactants is selected from the group of one or more cationic surfactants, one or more zwitterionic surfactants, one or more anionic surfactants, one or more amphoteric surfactants, and combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the aqueous viscous gel is also substantially free of solids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the assisted recovery of crude oil from an underground formation, comprising: a) injecting, via at least one injection means in contact with the underground formation containing the crude oil, a liquid containing a mixture of at least: i) a salty aqueous medium, ii) a mixture of two zwitterionic viscosising surfactants or a mixture of two populations of said surfactants having a bimodal characteristic of the narrow distribution of Ri groups as defined below, in a weight content of between 1 and 0.05 wt %, preferably between 0.5 and 0.1 wt %, and more preferably between 0.4 and 0.15 wt %, such that the liquid has an oil/water interface tension of about 10 mN/m (milinewton per meter) or less as measured at room temperature (25° C.) and a viscosity of about 3 cPs or more as measured at a temperature of 80° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the enhanced recovery of oil from an underground formation, in which a viscoelastic aqueous fluid comprising at least one viscosifying zwitterionic surfactant is injected into the said formation and the said fluid is conducted through this formation in order to displace the oil from the formation and to recover it via a different point from that where the viscoelastic aqueous fluid was introduced, characterized in that the said fluid exhibits an amount of a base sufficient to bring its pH to a value of greater than 10, preferably of between approximately 11 and 13.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to an aqueous paint composition comprising a mixture of: (1) an aqueous paint; (2) a colloidal dispersion of a cerium compound, said dispersion having a pH of at least 5, and comprising a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer (i) obtained by polymerizing at least one monomer (I), corresponding to the following: (I): ethylenically unsaturated, linear or branched, aliphatic, cyclic or aromatic monocarboxylic or polycarboxylic acid, or anhydride; and, optionally, a monomer corresponding to II): a polyoxyalkylenated ester of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid; and (3) a base. The instant invention also relates to paints and varnishes containing said composition.