Abstract: A composition comprising from 60-80 wt % alcohol alkoxy sulfates, 2-20 wt % of polyalkoxy sulfates and water wherein the alcohol alkoxy sulfates are of the formula R—O—(C3H6O)x—(C2H4O)y—SO3 where R is an alkyl group having from 9 to 18 carbon atoms, x is from 1 to 40, y is from 0 to 20 and x+y is from 1 to 60.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a surfactant composition comprising an anionic surfactant and optionally an organic amine in which the molar ratio of the organic amine to the anionic surfactant is preferably at least 1:1 and in which the amount of water is at most 40% by weight, which process comprises contacting an organic amine and an acid precursor of the anionic surfactant (“acid surfactant precursor”) by adding the acid surfactant precursor to the organic amine, wherein the molar ratio of the organic amine to the total amount of added acid surfactant precursor is at least 1:1, preferably at least 2:1, and the amount of water is at most 40% by weight based on total amount of mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation comprising providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation and allowing the hydrocarbon recovery composition to contact the formation wherein the hydrocarbon recovery composition comprises an alcohol alkoxy sulfate and an internal olefin sulfonate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising one or more internal olefin sulfonates and/or one or more alkoxylated alcohols and/or alkoxylated alcohol derivatives and a method of recovering hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon formation comprising feeding a hydrocarbon recovery composition into the formation, allowing the hydrocarbon recovery composition to contact the formation for a period of time, and withdrawing a mixture of the hydrocarbon recovery composition and hydrocarbons from the formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an alkoxylated alcohol composition, wherein the composition comprises an alkoxylated alcohol which is of the formula (I) Formula (I) R—O—[PO]x[EO]y—H wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group which has a weight average carbon number of from 5 to 32, PO is a propylene oxide group, EO is an ethylene oxide group, x is the number of propylene oxide groups and is of from 0 to 40, y is the number of ethylene oxide groups and is of from 0 to 50, and the sum of x and y is of from 5 to 60; and wherein the composition additionally comprises a stabilizer which is a phenolic antioxidant. Further, the invention relates to a process for preparing said alkoxylated alcohol composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising: a) providing an aqueous composition which comprises i) an internal olefin sulfonate (IOS) surfactant; ii) an acid which has a pKa between 4 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 50 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: A surfactant composition, which comprises (i) an internal olefin sulfonate and (ii) an alkoxylated alcohol and/or alkoxylated alcohol derivative, wherein the alkoxylated alcohol and/or alkoxylated alcohol derivative is a compound of the formula (I) R—O—[PO]x[EO]y—X wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group which has a weight average carbon number of from 5 to 32, PO is a propylene oxide group, EO is an ethylene oxide group, x is the number of propylene oxide groups and is of from 0 to 40, y is the number of ethylene oxide groups and is of from 0 to 50, and the sum of x and y is of from 5 to 60; and wherein X is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a hydrogen atom; (ii) a group comprising a carboxylate moiety; (iii) a group comprising a sulfate moiety; and (iv) a group comprising a sulfonate moiety.

Abstract: The invention provides a hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising one or more internal olefin sulfonates and a pH buffer. The composition may be injected into a hydrocarbon-containing formation to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons therefrom. The composition may also be used in a thermal enhanced oil recovery process that includes injecting a hot fluid with the hydrocarbon recovery composition to generate foam.

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.