Abstract: The invention is a method for generating bitumen-in-water dispersions and emulsions useful for recovering and transporting bitumen, which comprises mixing an aqueous surfactant solution with bitumen at an elevated temperature, said surfactant system comprising about 0.005% to about 5% by weight of a sulfonate surfactant represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl chain of about 6 to about 16 carbon atoms, x has an average value of about 2 to about 10, y has an average value of about 1 to about 10, R' is ethylene, propylene or butylene, and M.sup.+ is an alkali metal or ammonium ion.

Abstract: The invention is a method for increasing the effectiveness of steam or carbon dioxide foaming operations for improving conformance during steam or carbon dioxide floods by adding to the surfactant foaming solution a fatty acid having about 12 to about 20 carbon atoms in a concentration such that the ratio of fatty acid to surfactant in the foaming solution is between about 1:4 and about 3:2.

Abstract: A sacrificial agent method employing lignosulfonate-acrylic acid graft copolymers to reduce chemical loss to the formation during hydrocarbon recovery by surfactant system injection and sweep through an underground formation.

Abstract: A method of treating an aqueous charge liquid, such as oilfield produced waters, containing boron and solubilized hydrocarbon compounds to reduce boron concentration, which comprises water softening to remove substantially all divalent cations, raising the pH of the liquid above about 9.5, and driving the liquid through a reverse osmosis membrane.

Abstract: A method of staggered scheduling of injection and/or production into and from alternate rows of injection and/or production wells in hydrocarbon formations penetrated by multiple 5-spot, inverted 5-spot, 7-spot or 9-spot well patterns.

Abstract: A method of producing oil soluble surfactants from lignin is disclosed, along with a method for recovering oil from underground formations by means of a surfactant flooding system containing these lignin surfactants. Lignin is reduced in the presence of a carbon monoxide or hydrogen reducing agent at high temperature and pressure, alkoxylated with an .alpha.-olefin epoxide and then changed into oil soluble lignin surfactants by a reaction selected from the group consisting of sulfonation, sulfation and alkoxysulfation.

Abstract: A method of recovering polychlorinated biphenyls by mixing and reacting a soluble polymer with polychlorinated biphenyls in non-aqueous solvent to form a precipitate reaction complex of the polymer and biphenyl, and separating the precipitate from the solvent, said polymer having the formula: ##STR1##

Abstract: The invention is a method for forming a high viscosity gel by mixing about 0.9% to about 3.0% by weight of hydroxy propyl cellulose having an average molecular weight greater than about 1,000,000 about 0.4% to about 3.0% by weight of an alkali metal dodecyl sulfate in the ratio of about 3:1 to about 1:1.5 of cellulose to sulfate, and a brine having a salinity greater than about 20,000 ppm TDS.

Abstract: The invention is a method of moving hydrocarbons through an underground formation for later recovery which comprises injecting an aqueous surfactant system having about 0.5% to about 10% of one or more surfactants and about 0.5% to about 10% of an alkoxylated dialkylate having the formula:R.sub.1 (R.sub.3 O).sub.n R.sub.2wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are alkyl chains having about 3 to about 30 carbon atoms, R.sub.3 is C.sub.2 H.sub.4, C.sub.3 H.sub.6 or a mixture of C.sub.2 H.sub.4 and C.sub.3 H.sub.6, and n equals about 4 to about 300.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus for continuously obtaining a sample of a preselected trace element contained in a combustible liquid comprising a combustion chamber having inlets for combustible liquid and oxygen, an outlet for gaseous combustion products and a combustion dish, means for continuously supplying oxygen and combustible liquid to the combustion chamber, and a recovery vessel containing a chemical treating solution formulated to recover the preselected element from the combination products.

Abstract: An improved glycol dehydration apparatus with a condenser on the reboiler water vapor vent to condense volatile carbon compounds, said condenser comprising a countercurrent flow shell-and-tube condenser with an annular space of at least three-quarters of an inch, said shell inlet in fluid communication with the glycol dehydration apparatus at a first location between the pressure reduction pump and the glycol reboiler and said shell outlet in fluid communication with the glycol dehydration apparatus at a second location between the glycol reboiler and the first location.

Abstract: The invention is a method of recovering petroleum hydrocarbons from an underground formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises injecting through an injection well a mixture of carbon dioxide and about 0.1% to about 20% by weight trichloroethane at a temperature and pressure above the bubble point of the mixture, and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids at a production well.

Abstract: The invention is an aqueous shear-thickening composition comprising in one embodiment about 0.2% to about 1% by weight of hydroxypropyl cellulose having an average molecular weight between about 1,000,000 and about 1,300,000, about 0.1% to about 0.7% by weight of an alkali metal dodecyl sulfate in a ratio of about 2.5:1 to about 1.5:1 hydroxypropyl cellulose to alkali metal dodecyl sulfate, and water containing less than about 2000 ppm TDS.

Abstract: The invention is a method for the isolation of palynological materials from a rock sample in a pressurized reaction cell, which permits reaction at pressures greater than two atmospheres and provides for the removal of all liquids from the cell without significant loss of sample solids, the method employing multiple steps of addition and removal of concentrated and dilute hydrochloric acid, concentrated hydrofluoric acid, concentrated ammonium hydroxide, concentrated nitric acid and deionized water, followed by centrifugation and zinc bromide separation steps.

Abstract: A method for improving the injectivity of an injection well for water or gas injection into an underground hydrocarbon formation which comprises injecting into the formation through an injection well a sufficient amount of a solvent-in-water microemulsion comprising about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of an alkoxylated linear alcohol having about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms in the linear alcohol moiety and an average of about 5 to about 12 alkoxylate groups, about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of an alkylbenzene sulfonate having an alkyl chain of about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms, about 1% to about 10% by weight of an ethylene glycol alkylether solvent, and water.

Abstract: The invention is a method of producing oil soluble surfactants from lignin which comprises reacting an alkylphenol having an alkyl chain of about 5 to about 20 carbon atoms with formaldehyde at elevated temperature to produce an intermediate product and reacting the intermediate product at an elevated temperature with a lignin phenol sulfonate to produce an oil soluble lignin surfactant, said lignin phenol sulfonate produced by placing lignin in contact with water, converting the lignin into low molecular weight lignin phenol by reducing the lignin in the presence of a reducing agent of carbon monoxide or hydrogen which creates a reduction reaction mixture comprising oil soluble lignin phenol, said reduction occurring at a temperature greater than about 200.degree. C. and a pressure greater than about 100 psi, recovering the oil soluble lignin phenol from the reduction mixture and sulfonating the lignin phenol to produce lignin phenol sulfonate.

Abstract: The invention is a method of producing oil soluble surfactants from lignin which comprises reacting benzyl alcohol with lignin phenol at elevated temperature in the presence of a non-nucleophilic basic catalyst to produce a lignin phenol reaction product, and sulfonating the lignin phenol reaction product to produce an oil soluble lignin surfactant, said lignin phenol produced by placing lignin in contact with water, converting the lignin into low molecular weight lignin phenol by reducing the lignin in the presence of a reducing agent of carbon monoxide or hydrogen which creates a reduction reaction mixture comprising oil soluble lignin phenol, said reduction occurring at a temperature greater than about 200.degree. C. and a pressure greater than about 100 psi, and recovering the oil soluble lignin phenol from the reduction mixture.

Abstract: The invention is a method of producing water soluble surfactants from lignin, which comprises alkylating lignin at phenolic oxygen sites with an alkyl chain having about 3 to about 24 carbon atoms, sulfonating the alkylated lignin, and oxidizing the alkylated, sulfonated lignin sufficiently to break the lignin into smaller polymeric and monomeric compounds having water soluble surfactant properties. The invention also includes using these alkylated, sulfonated, oxidized lignin surfactants in surfactant floods for enhanced oil recovery.

Abstract: The invention is a method of recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation having at least one injecting well and at least one production well which comprises injecting a microemulsion into the formation through an injection well, driving said microemulsion through the formation and producing hydrocarbons through a production well, said microemulsion comprised of an internal phase of a primary amine having from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, lignin, a water-soluble anionic sulfonate surfactant, a solubilizer and an oil, and an external phase of brine.

Abstract: The invention is a method of recovering heavy oil from an underground reservoir by surfactant flooding which comprises injecting an aqueous surfactant solution comprising about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of an alkoxylated nonionic or ionic surfactant through an injection well into an underground reservoir containing a heavy oil having an average API gravity below about 20.degree. and a reservoir temperature above about 150.degree. F., where the alkoxylated surfactant must have sufficient alkylene oxide groups comprised of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide to have a cloud point above about 100.degree. F. and below reservoir temperature, and to be water-soluble in the surfactant solution to be injected at a temperature below its cloud point, and have a sufficiently large hydrophobe to be soluble in the reservoir's heavy oil at a temperature equal to or greater than reservoir temperature.