Abstract: A composition and method for controlling heavy hydrocarbons in down-hole environments and with associated equipment used in oil and gas well operations. The composition and method comprising an ether and optionally an ester, an alkoxylated alcohol or a hydrocarbon co-solvent. The compositions and methods are useful in controlling heavy hydrocarbons such as paraffins and asphaltenes by dissolving paraffins, suspending paraffins and asphaltenes and dissolving heavy oils, both down-hole and with associated equipment.

Abstract: A process for producing alumina, the process having a seeding phase and a precipitation phase. During the seeding phase a seed mixture is produced by adding an aluminium salt to an aqueous solution and then adding an alkaline metal aluminate to the mixture while maintaining the seed mixture at generally neutral pH. The precipitation phase produces precipitated alumina by simultaneously adding aluminium salt and alkaline metal aluminate to the seed mixture while maintaining a pH from 6.9 to 7.8. The recovered precipitated alumina has at least one, preferably all the following characteristics: i) a crystallite size of 33-42 Ang.: in the (120) diagonal plane (using XRD); ii) a crystallite d-spacing (020) of between 6.30-6.59 Ang.; iii) a high porosity with an average pore diameter of 115-166 Ang.; iv) a relatively low bulk density of 250-350 kg/m3; v) a surface area after calcination for 24 hours at 1100° C. of 60-80 m2/g; and vi) a pore volume after calcination for one hour at 1000° C. 0.8-1.1 m3/g.

Abstract: A composition for use in various down-hole operations in oil and gas wells. The compositions can include various combinations of certain ethers and other components e.g., esters, alkoxylated alcohols, acidizing agents and hydrocarbon co-solvents. The compositions are useful in a wide variety of down-hole applications particularly well cleaning, filter cake removal and well stimulation techniques e.g., acidizing.

Abstract: A base fluid for formulating wellbore fluids. The base fluid comprises a mixture of synthetic aliphatic hydrocarbons derived from a Fischer-Tropsch product stream and contains greater than 96% aliphatic hydrocarbons having a carbon number range of from C6 to C30. The percentage of homologues having a carbon number of C10 or less is less than about 3 wt %.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the use of polymeric additives for paraffin-containing fluids as pour point depressants and low temperature flow improvers, wherein the polymers comprise styrene and maleic acid dialkyl ester building blocks.

Abstract: A thixotropic agent comprised of a gel which is comprised of a polymeric organic material cross-linked with certain boehmite aluminas having a crystallite size of less than about 100 ? as measured on the 120 plane.

Abstract: A method of producing functionalized surface-modified alumina by adding an organic modifier comprising acrylic acid to alumina and drying the alumina to covalently bond the organic modifier to the surface of the alumina. The functionalized surface-modified alumina being uniformly dispersible in organic polymer to form single crystallites of functionalized surface-modified alumina in the polymer.

Abstract: A composition for viscosifying a nonaqueous base liquid. The composition has glycerin carbonate and optionally an alkoxylated alcohol having the formula: wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, or an aromatic radical having the structure: where R1 is a branched or linear alkyl having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms R2 is H or CH3 R3 is H or CH3 a is from 0 to 12 and b is from 1 to 12. The base liquid having greater than 20% naphthenics and about 10% to about 35% isoparaffins.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is a composition comprising amine compound and carboxylic acid compounds, wherein at least the amine compounds are alkoxylated, use thereof as a drilling fluid, and a method for using the drilling fluid.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a catalyst composition comprising titanium-, zirconium- and/or hafnium amidinate complexes and/or titanium-, zirconium- and/or hafnium guanidinate complexes and organo aluminium and/or organic zinc compounds, a coordinative chain transfer polymerization (CCTP) process employing the catalyst composition as well as long chain aluminium alkyls and subsequent alcohols obtained by such process.

Abstract: An extended anionic surfactant having the general formula: RO—(PO)n-YZ wherein R is a linear alkyl chain ranging from C6 to C36, a branched alkyl chain ranging from C6 to C36, or a mixture thereof; PO is a propyleneoxy group; Y is —SO3, —CH2CH2CH2—SO3, —CH2CH(CH3)—SO3, or —CH2COO; Z is a cation; and n is 1 to 50.

Abstract: Magnesium aluminate spinels are made by hydrothermally aging an aqueous slurry of a spinel precursor which can be (a) a mixture of boehmite alumina and a magnesium precursor, (b) an aluminum magnesium oxide or hydroxide, and (c) mixtures thereof. At least one of the aged slurries is dried to remove water and produce at least one dried spinel precursor. The dried spinel precursor is then calcined to produce the magnesium aluminate spinel.