Abstract: The present disclosure provides a novel process of using nonionic surfactants in wells at, near, or below their cloud point temperature for increased oil production from reservoir formations. Adjusting the surfactant cloud point temperature to be proximate to the reservoir temperature results in the maximum surface activity of the surfactant, increased adsorption, and better imbibition performance. The nonionic surfactants may be mixed with a solution on surface and then injected into formation brine for spontaneous brine imbibition and crude oil production from oil-wet unconventional reservoir formations.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a novel process of using nonionic surfactants in wells at, near, or below, their cloud point temperature for increased oil production from reservoir formations. Adjusting the surfactant cloud point temperature to be proximate to the reservoir temperature results in the maximum surface activity of the surfactant, increased adsorption, and better imbibition performance. The nonionic surfactants may be mixed with a solution on surface and then injected into formation brine for spontaneous brine imbibition and crude oil production from oil-wet unconventional reservoir formations. Also disclosed is a surfactant selection process that comprises initial surfactant screening, surfactant persistence tests, and spontaneous imbibition experiments to evaluate the performance of both ionic and nonionic surfactants in altering rock-oil wetting properties and improving oil recovery.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a novel process of using nonionic surfactants in wells at, near, or below their cloud point temperature for increased oil production from reservoir formations. Adjusting the surfactant cloud point temperature to be proximate to the reservoir temperature results in the maximum surface activity of the surfactant, increased adsorption, and better imbibition performance. The nonionic surfactants may be mixed with a solution on surface and then injected into formation brine for spontaneous brine imbibition and crude oil production from oil-wet unconventional reservoir formations.

Abstract: A process for preparing a hydrocarbon recovery composition which comprises an anionic surfactant, an alkaline agent and a polymer and a process for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising an anionic surfactant, wherein said composition is in the solid state, and to a shaped article comprising said composition. Preferably, said composition is in the form of a powder. Further, the invention relates to a process for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation comprising the steps of a) transporting said composition or shaped article to the location of the hydrocarbon containing formation; b) dissolving said composition or shaped article in water thereby forming an aqueous fluid containing the hydrocarbon recovery composition; c) providing the aqueous fluid containing the hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation; and d) allowing the hydrocarbon recovery composition to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

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 of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising (a) providing a composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the composition comprises a glycerol sulfonate of a propoxylated primary alcohol having a branched aliphatic group with an average carbon number from 10 to 24 and having an average number of branches per aliphatic group of from 0.7 to 2.5 and having at least 0.5 moles of propylene oxide per mole of primary alcohol; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

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 invention relates to a hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising an anionic surfactant, wherein said composition is in the solid state, and to a shaped article comprising said composition. Preferably, said composition is in the form of a powder. Further, the invention relates to a process for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation comprising the steps of a) transporting said composition or shaped article to the location of the hydrocarbon containing formation; b) dissolving said composition or shaped article in water thereby forming an aqueous fluid containing the hydrocarbon recovery composition; c) providing the aqueous fluid containing the hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation; and d) allowing the hydrocarbon recovery composition to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising vinylidene olefin sulfonates is described. A method of treating a crude oil formation and a method of preparing the hydrocarbon recovery composition are also described.

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 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 hydrocarbon recovery composition comprises a propoxylated composition which comprises (1) a glycerol sulfonate of a propoxylated primary alcohol having a branched aliphatic group with an average carbon number from 10 to 24 and having an average number of branches per aliphatic group of from 0.7 to 2.5 and having at least 0.

Abstract: A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising (a) providing a composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the composition comprises a derivative selected from the group consisting of a carboxylate or a sulfate or glycerol sulfonate of an ethoxylated/propoxylated primary alcohol having a branched aliphatic group with an average carbon number from 10 to 24 and having an average number of branches per aliphatic group of from 0.7 to 2.5 and having at least 0.5 moles of propylene oxide per mole of primary alcohol and having at least 0.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of primary alcohol; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising vinylidene based alkoxylate derivatives. A method of treating a crude oil formation and a method of preparing the hydrocarbon recovery composition are also described.

Abstract: An injectable fluid for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The injectable fluid includes ((i) when the salinity of the brine is from about 2 wt % to about 4 wt %, a composition that comprises a blend of a C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate and a C24-28 internal olefin sulfonate wherein the weight ratio of the C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate to the C24-28 internal olefin sulfonate is from about 90:10 to about 70:30 and (ii) when the salinity of the brine is greater than about 4 wt % up to about 13 wt %, a composition comprises a blend of a C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate and a C15-18 internal olefin sulfonate wherein the weight ratio of the C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate to the C15-18 internal olefin sulfonate is from about 90:10 to about 70:30.

Abstract: A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method includes (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein (i) when the salinity of the brine is from about 2 wt % to about 4 wt %, the composition comprises a blend of a C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate and a C24-28 internal olefin sulfonate wherein the weight ratio of the C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate to the C24-28 internal olefin sulfonate is from about 90:10 to about 70:30 and (ii) when the salinity of the brine is greater than about 4 wt % up to about 13 wt % the composition comprises a blend of a C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate and a C15-18 internal olefin sulfonate wherein the weight ratio of the C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate to the C15-18 internal olefin sulfonate is from about 90:10 to about 70:30; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

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 making a useful cleaning product from an alkoxylate of a secondary alcohol which comprises: (a) partially sulfating a secondary alcohol alkoxylate with sulfur trioxide in a falling film sulfation reactor at a molar ratio of sulfur trioxide to secondary alcohol alkoxylate of less than 0.9 to produce a mixture comprising a sulfuric acid ester of the secondary alcohol alkoxylate and secondary alcohol alkoxylate which may comprise at least 50 percent by weight of the sulfuric acid ester of the secondary alcohol alkoxylate, (b) combining the mixture with a neutralizing agent in an amount sufficient to neutralize the sulfuric acid ester, and (c) optionally adding water to yield a useful cleaning product.

Abstract: A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising (a) providing a composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the composition comprises a derivative selected from the group consisting of a carboxylate or a sulfate or glycerol sulfonate of an ethoxylated/propoxylated primary alcohol having a branched aliphatic group with an average carbon number from 10 to 24 and having an average number of branches per aliphatic group of from 0.7 to 2.5 and having at least 0.5 moles of propylene oxide per mole of primary alcohol and having at least 0.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of primary alcohol; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising (a) providing a composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the composition comprises a glycerol sulfonate of a propoxylated primary alcohol having a branched aliphatic group with an average carbon number from 10 to 24 and having an average number of branches per aliphatic group of from 0.7 to 2.5 and having at least 0.5 moles of propylene oxide per mole of primary alcohol; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.