In one embodiment, a retarded acid system comprises an aqueous acid and a retarding surfactant. The aqueous acid may comprise from 5 wt. % to 25 wt. % of a strong acid, that is, an acid having a K.sub.a greater than or equal to 0.01. The aqueous acid may further comprise from 75 wt. % to 95 wt. % water. The retarding surfactant may have the general chemical formula R—(OC.sub.2H.sub.4).sub.X—OH where R is a hydrocarbon having from 11 to 15 carbon atoms and x is an integer from 6 to 10. The retarding surfactant may have a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance from 8 to 16.

The invention relates to aqueous composition having a continuous aqueous phase, wherein the composition comprises•a) a polymer having a polymer backbone having carboxylic acid groups covalently linked to the polymer backbone, dissolved in the continuous aqueous phase, wherein 10 to 100 mol-% of the acid groups are neutralized by a base selected from ammonia, and amines having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof, •b) a polyalkylene oxide terminated at one end by a hydrocarbyl group having 8 to 30 carbon atoms, and, •c) a compound according to formula (I) (Formula I)•wherein R.sup.1 is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon with 3 to 10 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 is H or CH.sub.3 and n is 1 or 2, •wherein components a), b), and c) together have an acid value in the range of 20 to 200 mg KOH/g, •and wherein the polymer has one or more pendant groups (A) connected to the polymer backbone by a covalent link, wherein the pendant group (A) comprises a polyalkylene oxide segment and a hydrocarbyl segment having 8 to 30 carbon atoms, and wherein the polyalkylene oxide segment is located between the hydrocarbyl segment and the covalent link.

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A non-linear surfactant, and particularly a non-linear surfactant comprising bi-functionalized molecules or particles having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups. The non-linear surfactant includes a nanoparticle template of a rigid molecular structure, wherein the nanoparticle comprises a molecule or a particle that is bi-functionalized with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups to obtain an amphiphilic nanoparticle. The template nanoparticle can be used as a surfactant, wetting agent, emulsifier, detergent or other surface active agents or for the preparation of nanoemulsions or dispersions. The non-linear surfactant can provide smaller particle sizes for emulsion suspensions and foams.

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##STR00002##

The present disclosure provides a composition. In an embodiment, the composition includes a mixture of an alcohol (1) and an alcohol (2). Alcohol (1) has the Structure (1): alcohol (2) has the Structure (2): wherein a is an integer from 1 to 2, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each independently is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl group, with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is 7, and R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of a butyl group, an isobutyl group, a pentyl group, and an isopentyl group.

##STR00001##

##STR00002##

The present disclosure provides a composition. In an embodiment, the composition includes a mixture of an alcohol (1) and an alcohol (2). Alcohol (1) has the Structure (1): alcohol (2) has the Structure (2): wherein a is an integer from 1 to 2, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each independently is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl group, with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is 7, and R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of a butyl group, an isobutyl group, a pentyl group, and an isopentyl group.

The invention relates to a wetting composition comprising a surfactant selected from a non-ionic, cationic, anionic and amphoteric surfactant in combination with from 10 to less than 50 wt % of at least one C10 to C14 alcohol and 10 to 30 wt % of a C4-C6 oxygen containing co-solvent, to methods for using the wetting composition and products containing the wetting composition.

Various examples of systems and methods for making microspheres, microparticles, and emulsions are provided. In one example, a system and method for forming microspheres comprises: pumping a dispersed phase liquid and a continuous phase liquid into a levitating magnetic impeller pump to subject the dispersed phase liquid and continuous phase liquid to a high shear environment within the impeller pump's pump chamber. In another example, a system and method for forming an emulsion comprises: pumping a dispersed phase liquid and an inner aqueous phase liquid into a levitating magnetic impeller pump to subject the dispersed phase and the inner aqueous phase to a high shear environment within the impeller pump's pump chamber.

A method may include providing a single-phase cleanout fluid comprising a first nonionic surfactant with a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) greater than 10, a second nonionic surfactant with an HLB greater than 10, a third nonionic surfactant with an HLB of less than 10, and a solvent; preparing a cleanout pill by mixing the single-phase cleanout fluid with a brine; and displacing a fluid in a wellbore using the cleanout pill.

A method may include providing a single-phase cleanout fluid comprising a first nonionic surfactant with a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) greater than 10, a second nonionic surfactant with an HLB greater than 10, a third nonionic surfactant with an HLB of less than 10, and a solvent; preparing a cleanout pill by mixing the single-phase cleanout fluid with a brine; and displacing a fluid in a wellbore using the cleanout pill.

Compositions containing a first reactant; an emulsion comprising a surfactant and silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) nanoparticles; and a carrier fluid containing a second reactant and methods of making. When the first and second reactants react, they generate heat. At a first time, the emulsion surrounds the first reactant, and the carrier fluid with the second reactant surrounds the emulsion. At a second time, the emulsion surrounds a first portion of the first reactant; and a second portion of the first reactant surrounds the emulsion.