Abstract: A method of making phenol and alkylphenol ethoxylates non-estrogenic by inserting 1 mole of propylene oxide onto the phenolic group before proceeding with the addition of ethylene oxide or mixtures of ethylene and propylene oxide. The final phenolic products can be further reacted to form sulfates, sulfonates, phosphate esters, condensed alkylphenol alkoxylates and other derivatives of alkylphenol or phenol. Non-estrogenic phenol and alkylphenol alkoxylates and their derivatives have been found to be excellent salt tolerant, high temperature stable surfactants for oil recovery from subterranean reservoirs. These products are also useful in forming emulsions of heavy crude for transportation through pipelines.

Abstract: A method of making phenol and alkylphenol ethoxylates non-estrogenic by inserting 1 mole of propylene oxide onto the phenolic group before proceeding with the addition of ethylene oxide or mixtures of ethylene and propylene oxide. The final phenolic products can be further reacted to form sulfates, sulfonates, phosphate esters, condensed alkylphenol alkoxylates and other derivatives of alkylphenol or phenol. Non-estrogenic phenol and alkylphenol alkoxylates and their derivatives have been found to be excellent salt tolerant, high temperature stable surfactants for oil recovery from subterranean reservoirs. These products are also useful in forming emulsions of heavy crude for transportation through pipelines.

Abstract: A composition and process for recovering oil by injecting an aqueous solution into a subterranean oil-bearing formation through one or more injection wells, displacing the solution into the formation, and recovering the oil from one or more production wells. This aqueous solution contains one or more amphoteric alkyl amido betaine surfactants that form a viscoelastic surfactant gels that can reduce the interfacial tension (IFT) and increase the viscosity of the injection fluid simultaneously in certain oils and brines. These viscoelastic gels are tolerant to electrolytes and multivalent cations. They are shear reversible and adsorbed little on the reservoir rock. The viscosity of the gels is reduced when they encountered certain hydrocarbons but remains high when contacting water or brine. This allows the fluid to preferentially penetrate the oil-bearing portions of the formation and resulting additional oil recovery.

Abstract: A method for fracturing subterranean reservoirs by including a partially esterified, polyalkoxylated polyols as an oxidizing breaker retarder in the aqueous fracturing fluid to delay its gel breaking properties with the oxidizing breaker. The delayed gel breaking properties will lead to the controlled breaking of the fracturing fluid that reduces or eliminates damage to the formation and facilitates well clean up.

Abstract: A viscoelastic surfactant mixture (VESM) has been developed that is useful as a viscosity modifying additive for stimulating subterranean hydrocarbon containing formations. The VESM contains an amphoteric surfactant, an arylalkyl sulfonate cosurfactant and a polar solvent. The VESM may be employed as part of systems used in fracturing, acidizing, gravel packing and similar operations where a viscous fluid is required. The VESM can be applied over a wide range of temperatures and is especially useful if performance at elevated temperatures is required.

Abstract: An oil recovery method is disclosed which uses injection fluids containing a particular class of arylalkyl sulfonate surfactants that are derived from an alpha-olefin stream having a broad distribution of carbon numbers ranging from more than 10 to greater than 30. The alpha-olefin stream is reacted with sulfur trioxide to form the olefin sulfonic acids, and then these are reacted with aromatic feedstock, such as benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, phenol, substituted phenol, naphthalene or substituted naphthalene, or a mixture thereof, and neutralized to form arylalkyl sulfonate surfactants. The resulting surfactants have high solubility in a wide range of brines and provide ultra low interfacial tension with crude oils. The resulting surfactants also have economical advantages over the conventional alkylaryl sulfonate surfactants derived from a broad distribution of alpha-olefin stream due to the elimination of the costly alkylation process and the toxic catalyst used in the process.

Abstract: A composition and method for fracturing subterranean reservoirs by including a partially esterified, polyalkoxylated polyols as an oxidizing breaker retarder in the aqueous fracturing fluid to delay its gel breaking properties with the oxidizing breaker. The delayed gel breaking properties will lead to the controlled breaking of the fracturing fluid that reduces or eliminates damage to the formation and facilitates well clean up.

Abstract: An oil recovery process is disclosed which uses an alkali(s) and a particular class of alkylaryl sulfonate surfactants. The surfactants are derived from an alpha-olefin stream having a broad distribution of even carbon numbers ranging from 12 to 28 or more. The olefin stream is reacted with aromatic feedstock, such as benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, or a mixture thereof to form alkylates, and then reacted with SO3 to form sulfonic acids. Alternatively, the surfactant can be formed by first reacting an alpha-olefin stream having a broad distribution of carbon numbers ranging from 12 to 28 or more with SO3 to form the olefin sulfonic acid that is subsequently used to alkylate an aromatic feedstock.