Abstract: A surfactant of formula (I) wherein each of R1 and R2 are independently a hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted cycloalkyl, or an optionally substituted arylalkyl, R3 and R4 are independently an optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted cycloalkyl, or an optionally substituted arylalkyl, x is an integer in a range of 2-8, y is an integer in a range of 1-15, z is an integer in a range of 4-10, n is an integer in a range of 2-5, and A is one of a carboxybetaine group, a sulfobetaine group, or a hydroxy sulfobetaine group. An oil and gas well servicing fluid containing the surfactant and methods of servicing an oil and gas well are also described.

Abstract: A method of slurrifying oil contaminated materials by introducing a microemulsion or microemulsion-forming surfactant(s) to the material and subjecting the mixture to suitable shear or mixing forces to suitably blend such mixtures. The method may be applied directly to wastes such as waste drill mud cuttings and muds, emulsions, sludges, or soil substrates contaminated with water and/or oil drilling fluids in order to both reduce the viscosity and improve the lubricity, wetting, and flow properties of the substrate.

Abstract: Methods for using a microemulsion system are disclosed which comprises a solvent subsystem, a co-solvent subsystem and a surfactant subsystem comprises at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant, where the microemulsion system are useful in drilling, producing, remediation, and fracturing application to reduce water blocks and water blocking in formation of a producing formation.

Abstract: A microemulsion system is disclosed which comprises a solvent subsystem, a co-solvent subsystem and a surfactant subsystem comprises at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant, where the microemulsion system are useful in drilling, producing, remediation, and fracturing application to reduce water blocks and water blocking in formation of a producing formation.

Abstract: An agent and a method for dispersing spilled oil, particularly on a body of water. The compound is a viscous dispersant liquid comprising a mixture of surfactants and a viscosifying agent that may be stored, shipped, mixed, and delivered on site using standard equipment and methods. The compound is released as a cohesive, persistent, visible, gel-like or paste-like liquid that floats on water. At least one method includes delivering the viscous dispersant liquid onto an oil spill in a body of water utilizing a jet airplane flying at over about 100 feet and spraying the liquid in large, pea-sized droplets.

Abstract: A microemulsion system is disclosed which comprises a solvent subsystem, a co-solvent subsystem and a surfactant subsystem comprises at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant, where the microemulsion system are useful in drilling, producing, remediation, and fracturing application to reduce water blocks and water blocking in formation of a producing formation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for controlling the stability of an emulsion comprising a hydrophobic phase dispersed in an aqueous phase, or an aqueous phase dispersed in a hydrophobic phase, and less than 4% by weight of a surfactant, said process comprising the step of using in the emulsion a block copolymer.

Abstract: Composition may be prepared in a single DEFI reactor comprising mixtures of (1) DEFI (directly esterified fatty acyl isethionate) and (2) a compound produced by the reaction of (a) isethionate with a fatty acid replacement (e.g., a multicarboxylic fatty acid, a fatty acid); or (b) fatty acid with an isethionate replacement (e.g., C2-C24 alcohols, C2-C20 organic acids, amines). Such mixtures are milder than DEFI alone while retaining substantially same foaming benefit.

Abstract: An aqueous emulsion containing from about 0.1 to about 70 weight percent of a mixture of a) one or more alkoxylated alcohols of formula RO(C2H4O)x(C3H6O)yZ  wherein R is straight or branched C4-C40 alkyl; x is 0 to about 25; y is less than 1 to about 50 and Z is H or the residue of an organic acid, and b) an effective emulsifying amount of one or more anionic surfactants and use of the emulsion to inhibit foaming in papermaking processes.

Abstract: Disclosed are ethylenically unsaturated amine salts of sulfonic, phosphoric and carboxylic acids. The salts are surface active agents which are useful in a variety of applications as primary and/or secondary surfactants. The salts are especially useful as surfactants in emulsion polymerization reactions.

Abstract: A formulation of chemical surfactants, solvents and inorganic salts is effective for dispersing heavy oils in both salt and fresh water. The formulation comprises a mixture of a sorbitan ester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, a polyoxyethylene adduct of a sorbitan monoester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, an alkali metal salt of a dialkyl sulfosuccinate, a polyoxyethylene adduct of a sorbitan triester of a monocarboxylic acid, a solvent comprising a hydrocarbon and/or a glycol ether and an inorganic salt containing a soluble divalent cation such as calcium or magnesium.

Abstract: A method for controlling vertical migration of contaminants in an aquifer includes introduction of a solubilizing solution having a surfactant and an alcohol or other light co-solvent. The surfactant is selected to solubilize the contaminant. The alcohol or other solvent is selected to provide the microemulsion with a substantially neutral buoyancy with respect to groundwater. The neutral buoyancy of the microemulsion prevents the normal downward movement which is typical of the solubilized dense non-aqueous phase liquid in surfactant-enhanced aquifer remediation. Thus, the risk that any significant amount of the solubilized dense non-aqueous contaminants will migrate vertically can be controlled. The relative tendency for vertical migration may also be reduced by increasing the injection rate or injected fluid viscosity (by adding polymer), or by reducing the well spacing.