Abstract: The invention relates to 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 an anionic surfactant based on an alkoxylated primary alcohol having a branched aliphatic group, which group has an average carbon number of from 9 to 15 and an average number of branches of from 0.5 to 2.5, and having an average of at least 0.5 mole of alkylene oxide groups per mole of primary alcohol; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation. Further, the invention relates to the hydrocarbon recovery composition that is used in said method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising the following steps: a) providing a composition, which comprises a surfactant which is a compound of the formula (I) R—O—[R?—O]x—X, wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group having a weight average carbon number of from 13 to 30, R?—O is an alkylene oxide group, x is the number of alkylene oxide groups R?—O, and X is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a group comprising a sulfate moiety; (ii) a group comprising a carboxylate moiety; and (iii) a group comprising a sulfonate moiety, to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the hydrocarbon containing formation comprises a crude oil which has a weight ratio of saturates to aromatics of from 0.6 to 5.0; and b) allowing the surfactant from the composition to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

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: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (VI); (R9)(R10)P—N(R3)—P(R4)??(VI) wherein: the R9 and R10 groups are independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl or heteroalkyl groups; the R3 group is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R4 group is an optionally substituted alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure or an optionally substituted arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (IV); (R8)(R1)P—N(R3)—P(R4)??(IV).

Abstract: The invention relates to 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 water and an anionic surfactant which is an internal olefin sulfonate (IOS), which has a weight ratio of branched IOS molecules to linear IOS molecules N which is greater than 0 to smaller than 11:89; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation. Further, the invention relates to a hydrocarbon recovery composition which comprises the composition used in said method, and to a hydrocarbon containing composition produced from a hydrocarbon containing formation which in addition to hydrocarbons contains the composition used in said method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (VI); (R9)(R10)P—N(R3)—P(R4)??(VI) wherein: the R9 and R10 groups are independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl or heteroalkyl groups; the R3 group is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R4 group is an optionally substituted alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure or an optionally substituted arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to 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 an anionic surfactant based on an alkoxylated primary alcohol having a branched aliphatic group, which group has an average carbon number of from 9 to 15 and an average number of branches of from 0.5 to 2.5, and having an average of at least 0.5 mole of alkylene oxide groups per mole of primary alcohol; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation. Further, the invention relates to the hydrocarbon recovery composition that is used in said method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (IV); (R8)(R1)P—N(R3)—P(R4)??(IV).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (VI): (R9)(R10)P—N(R3)—P(R4)??(VI) wherein: the R9 and R10 groups are independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl or heteroalkyl groups; the R3 group is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R4 group is an optionally substituted alkylenedioxy or alkylenedimercapto structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen or sulphur atoms of the alkylenedioxy or alkylenedimercapto structure or an optionally substituted arylenedioxy or arylenedimercapto structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen or sulphur atoms of the arylenedioxy or arylenedimercapto structure.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of acylated secondary alcohol alkoxylates and a process for making secondary alcohol alkoxy sulfates comprising the steps of:— preparing secondary alcohol alkoxylates by the afore-mentioned process; and sulfating the secondary alcohol alkoxylates is described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (IV); (R8)(R1)P—N(R3)—P(R4)??(IV).

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: The present invention relates to catalyst systems and a process for the simultaneous trimerization and tetramerization of olefinic monomers using those ligands.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ligands and catalyst systems and a process for the simultaneous trimerization and tetramerization of olefinic monomers using said ligands, the ligands having the general formula (I): (R1)2P—P(R1)m(R2)n?N(R3)??(I) wherein R3 is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R1 groups are independently selected from an optionally substituted aromatic group bearing a polar substituent on at least one of the ortho-positions; and the R2 groups are independently selected from hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl groups with the proviso that when the group is aromatic it does not contain a polar substituent at any of the ortho-positions; with the proviso that m is 0 or 1, n is 1 or 2 and the total of m+n is 2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalyst systems and a process for the simultaneous trimerization and tetramerization of olefinic monomers using those ligands.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (IV); (R8)(R1)P—N(R3)—P(R4)??(IV).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (VI); (R9)(R10)P—N(R3)—P(R4)??(VI) wherein: the R9 and R10 groups are independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl or heteroalkyl groups; the R3 group is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R4 group is an optionally substituted alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure or an optionally substituted arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand comprising the product formed by reacting i) a compound having the general formula (III); (R1)(R2)P—N(R3)—R5??(III); and ii) a compound of the formula X—P(R4), preferably at a temperature in the range of from ?30 to 200° C.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of acylated secondary alcohol alkoxylates and a process for making secondary alcohol alkoxy sulfates comprising the steps of: preparing secondary alcohol alkoxylates by the afore-mentioned process; and sulfating the secondary alcohol alkoxylates is described.