Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing an internal olefin sulfonate, comprising sulfonating an internal olefin into sulfonated internal olefin followed by contacting sulfonated internal olefin with a base containing solution, wherein the molar ratio of internal olefin to solvent for the base is higher than 0.06. Further, the invention relates to an internal olefin sulfonate obtainable by said process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising the following steps: a) providing a composition comprising a surfactant to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the surfactant is a compound of the formula (I) R—O—[R?—O]x—X wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group, R?—O is an alkylene oxide group, x is the number of alkylene oxide groups R?—O, and X is a group comprising a carboxylate moiety; b) allowing the surfactant from the composition to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation; c) recovering from the hydrocarbon containing formation an emulsion comprising hydrocarbons, water and the surfactant; and d) adding an acid to the emulsion thus recovered.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation. The method comprises providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising a mixture of branched internal olefin sulfonate molecules, and contacting hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation with the hydrocarbon recovery composition. The mixture of branched internal olefin sulfonate molecules has an average number of carbon atoms of between 19 and 23, and an average number of branches of at least 0.6 per molecule. A hydrocarbon composition produced from a hydrocarbon containing formation, and a hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising a mixture of branched internal olefin sulfonate molecules are also provided.

Abstract: A method of treating a very high salinity high temperature hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method includes (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon containing formation having a brine salinity of above about 13 wt % and a temperature of above about 7° C., wherein the composition comprises a C15-18 internal olefin sulfonate; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation comprising (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the composition comprises one or more internal olefin sulfonates having 17 or more carbon atoms, (b) adding water and/or brine from the hydrocarbon formation to the composition, (c) adding a solubilizer which comprises an ethoxylated alcohol wherein the alcohol before ethoxylation had an average molecular weight of at least about 220 and (d) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation. The solubilizer may comprise less than about 0.1 wt %, preferably from about 0.02 to about 0.05 wt %, of the total composition and it may have from about 5 to about 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation. The method comprises providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising a mixture of branched internal olefin sulfonate molecules, and contacting hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation with the hydrocarbon recovery composition. The mixture of branched internal olefin sulfonate molecules has an average number of carbon atoms of between 19 and 23, and an average number of branches of at least 0.6 per molecule. A hydrocarbon composition produced from a hydrocarbon containing formation, and a hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising a mixture of branched internal olefin sulfonate molecules are also provided.

Abstract: A method of treating a very high salinity high temperature hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method includes (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon containing formation having a brine salinity of above about 13 wt % and a temperature of above about 7° C., wherein the composition comprises a C15-18 internal olefin sulfonate; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of alkoxysulfates from organic compounds containing one or more nucleophilic groups by reacting said organic compound, in a water-miscible solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfur-containing solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or sulfolane, or polar solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylacetamide (DMA) and hexamethylphosphoric triamide (HMPT), with an alkylene sulfate, in a non-water-miscible solvent selected from the group consisting of chlorinated solvents such as methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethane or chlorinated aromatics, such as chlorobenzene or dichlorobenzene, and non-chlorinated aromatics, such as toluene or xylenes, in the presence of a base selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, carbonates and hydrogen carbonates of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation comprising (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the composition comprises one or more internal olefin sulfonates having 17 or more carbon atoms, (b) adding water and/or brine from the hydrocarbon formation to the composition, (c) adding a solubilizer which comprises an ethoxylated alcohol wherein the alcohol before ethoxylation had an average molecular weight of at least about 220 and (d) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation. The solubilizer may comprise less than about 0.1 wt %, preferably from about 0.02 to about 0.05 wt %, of the total composition and it may have from about 5 to about 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an alkoxylate composition, said process comprising the steps of: (a) introducing into a reactor system one or more compounds with one or more active hydrogen atoms, selected from the group comprising alkanoic acids, alkanoic amides, alkanoic ethanolamides, alcohols and alkylmercaptans, and a double metal cyanide catalyst; (b) contacting the one or more compounds with one or more active hydrogen atoms and the double metal cyanide catalyst with propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide to form a first product mixture comprising double metal cyanide catalyst and compounds formed by the addition of one of more propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide units to the one or more compounds with one or more active hydrogen atoms; and (c) contacting the first product mixture with ethylene oxide to form a second product mixture comprising compounds formed by the addition of one of more ethylene oxide units to the compounds formed in step (b).