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: A hydrocarbon recovery composition which comprises a first blend of C24-28 internal olefin sulfonates and an injectable fluid composition comprising the hydrocarbon recovery composition, water and/or brine wherein the hydrocarbon recovery composition is present in an amount of from 0.05 to 1.0 wt % of the total injectable fluid composition can be used for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from a formation.

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: (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: A hydrocarbon recovery composition which comprises a first blend of C24-28 internal olefin sulfonates and an injectable fluid composition comprising the hydrocarbon recovery composition, water and/or brine wherein the hydrocarbon recovery composition is present in an amount of from 0.05 to 1.0 wt % of the total injectable fluid composition can be used for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from a formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing an internal olefin sulfonate, comprising sulfonating an internal olefin, having an average carbon number that is equal to or greater than 20, in a sulfonation reactor into sulfonated internal olefin followed by contacting sulfonated internal olefin with a base containing solution, wherein the sulfonation reactor is cooled with a cooling means having a temperature which is greater than 35° C. Further, the invention relates to an internal olefin sulfonate obtainable by said process, and to use of internal olefin sulfonates obtainable or obtained by said process as a surfactant, suitably as a surfactant in chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery.

Abstract: A method of treating a formation containing crude oil with specific solubility groups and chemical families is described. The method includes (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of a formation containing crude oil with specific solubility groups and chemical families, wherein the composition comprises a C24-28 internal olefin sulfonate; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the crude oil containing formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing an internal olefin sulfonate, comprising sulfonating an internal olefin, having an average carbon number that is equal to or greater than 20, in a sulfonation reactor into sulfonated internal olefin followed by contacting sulfonated internal olefin with a base containing solution, wherein the sulfonation reactor is cooled with a cooling means having a temperature which is greater than 35° C. Further, the invention relates to an internal olefin sulfonate obtainable by said process, and to use of internal olefin sulfonates obtainable or obtained by said process as a surfactant, suitably as a surfactant in chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery.

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 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: (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: Methods and systems of separating a hydrocarbon phase from a mixture comprising an emulsion of water and hydrocarbons in the presence of a surfactant, comprising adjusting the salinity of the mixture to release hydrocarbons and water from the emulsion into a hydrocarbon phase and a salt-containing aqueous phase respectively; and separating at least a part of the hydrocarbon phase from the salt-containing aqueous phase wherein at least a part of the salt-containing aqueous phase is recovered for further use.

Abstract: A method of treating a formation containing crude oil with specific solubility groups and chemical families is described. The method includes (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of a formation containing crude oil with specific solubility groups and chemical families, wherein the composition comprises a C24-28 internal olefin sulfonate; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the crude oil containing formation.

Abstract: A hydroformylation process is provided that involves reacting a compound having at least one olefinic carbon-to-carbon bond with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a cobalt catalyst and a sulfur-containing additive which suppresses the formation of cobalt carbide in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for making a linear alpha-olefin oligomer in a reactor comprising a liquid and a gas phase, comprising the steps of catalytically oligomerizing ethylene in the presence of a nickel, palladium, cobalt, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, chromium, molybdenum or tungsten complex, to an alpha-olefin oligomer which preferably has an average molecular weight between 50 and 350 under release of heat, and removing the heat with a heat exchanger, which is not in direct contact with the liquid phase, using at least part of the gas phase as a coolant medium. The invention further relate to an apparatus to perform said process.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for making a linear alpha-olefin oligomer in a reactor comprising a liquid and a gas phase, comprising the steps of catalytically oligomerizing ethylene in the presence of an iron complex of a 2,6-bis(arylimino)pyridine derivative, to an alpha-olefin oligomer under release of heat, and removing the heat with a heat exchanger, which is not in direct contact with the liquid phase, using at least part of the gas phase as a coolant medium. The invention further relates to an apparatus to perform said process.

Abstract: A hydroformylation process is provided that involves reacting a compound having at least one olefinic carbon-to-carbon bond with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a cobalt catalyst and a sulfur-containing additive which suppresses the formation of cobalt carbide in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydroformylation process comprising the steps of: (a) contacting one or more ethylenically unsaturated compound(s) in a reaction zone with carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas in the presence of a solvent and a homogeneous catalyst based on a Group 8, 9 or 10 metal, and a non-ionically charged phosphorus ligand to form a crude hydroformylation product; (b) allowing a major portion of the solvent, wherein a major portion of the catalyst is dissolved, to separate and be withdrawn from the crude hydroformylation product in a phase separation zone; (c) removing from the separated hydroformylation product emerging from step (b) substantially all remaining catalyst dissolved therein with a non-aqueous extractant in an extraction zone.

Abstract: A process for the hydroformylation of a feed comprising compounds having a single ethylenically unsaturated group by reaction thereof in the liquid phase with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a) a source of palladium cations;b) a source of anions;c) a source of at least one bidentate ligands of the formulaR.sup.1 R.sup.2 M.sup.1 RM.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 (I)characterized in that the ethylenically unsaturated feed comprises one or more dienes and/or further multiply unsaturated alkenes to an amount of 0.005-5 wt % based on the total amount of ethylenically unsaturated compounds in the feed, and in that component b) of the catalyst system is a source of anions of an acid having a pKa value, measured in aqueous solution at 18.degree. C., of between -1 and 4.