A heteroatom-containing alkoxy polyether based anionic-nonionic surfactant has the following molecular formula (I):

R.sub.1—O-(Poly).sub.n-X—Y.sup.a−.a/bM.sup.b+  (I).

In formula (I), R.sub.1 is any one of C.sub.1-C.sub.50 aliphatic group and aromatic group; each occurrence of group Poly, equal to or different from each other, is independently selected from the group represented by formula (Ru—O).sub.m; n is a number from greater than 0 to 300; for each type of group (Ru—O), m is independently a number from greater than 0 to 100; X is any one of alkylene, alkenylene and arylene containing 1-10 carbon atoms; Y is an anionic group; and M is a cation or a cationic group.

A heteroatom-containing alkoxy polyether based anionic-nonionic surfactant has the following molecular formula (I):

R.sub.1—O-(Poly).sub.n-X—Y.sup.a−.a/bM.sup.b+  (I).

In formula (I), R.sub.1 is any one of C.sub.1-C.sub.50 aliphatic group and aromatic group; each occurrence of group Poly, equal to or different from each other, is independently selected from the group represented by formula (Ru—O).sub.m; n is a number from greater than 0 to 300; for each type of group (Ru—O), m is independently a number from greater than 0 to 100; X is any one of alkylene, alkenylene and arylene containing 1-10 carbon atoms; Y is an anionic group; and M is a cation or a cationic group.

The subject invention provides methods and compositions for replacing chemical surfactants for use in a wide variety of industrial applications. More specifically, the subject invention provides for the production of multi-functional biological surface-active compositions having one or more precise functional characteristics based on the desired use.

The subject invention provides methods and compositions for replacing chemical surfactants for use in a wide variety of industrial applications. More specifically, the subject invention provides for the production of multi-functional biological surface-active compositions having one or more precise functional characteristics based on the desired use.

A multicomponent nanocapsule composition comprising a core particle, an oil phase encapsulating the core particle, and an aqueous phase in which the encapsulated core particle is suspended is provided. The porous particle includes a cationic surfactant encapsulated in a porous particle. The oil phase includes an anionic surfactant and a zwitterionic surfactant. A method of making a multicomponent nanocapsule composition is also provided. A method of treating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation with the multicomponent nanocapsule composition is provided. The method may include providing a multicomponent nanocapsule composition, introducing the multicomponent nanocapsule composition into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, displacing hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon-bearing formation by contacting the multicomponent nanocapsule composition with the hydrocarbons, and recovering the hydrocarbons.

The method includes gathering field data of a formation, preparing samples of brine consistent with the composition of the formation brine and the injection brine, dead crude oil, and live crude oil, and characterizing the properties of crude oil samples. The method includes preparing samples of reservoir rock and characterizing the properties of the rock samples of the formation. The method includes measuring the contact angle of surfactant/formation brine/formation rock/formation crude oil samples at ambient and reservoir conditions and measuring the interfacial tension of the sample. The method includes characterizing the HLD properties of each surfactant. In addition, the method includes performing formulation targeting HLD=0 for a mixture of surfactants, performing laboratory evaluation of the HLD=0 formulation of the mixture of the surfactants to obtain values of oil recovery number, and testing the HLD=0 formulation of the mixture of the first and second selected surfactants in the formation.

The method includes gathering field data of a formation, preparing samples of brine consistent with the composition of the formation brine and the injection brine, dead crude oil, and live crude oil, and characterizing the properties of crude oil samples. The method includes preparing samples of reservoir rock and characterizing the properties of the rock samples of the formation. The method includes measuring the contact angle of surfactant/formation brine/formation rock/formation crude oil samples at ambient and reservoir conditions and measuring the interfacial tension of the sample. The method includes characterizing the HLD properties of each surfactant. In addition, the method includes performing formulation targeting HLD=0 for a mixture of surfactants, performing laboratory evaluation of the HLD=0 formulation of the mixture of the surfactants to obtain values of oil recovery number, and testing the HLD=0 formulation of the mixture of the first and second selected surfactants in the formation.

The present disclosure is directed to surfactants (in particular olefin sulfonates), surfactant packages, compositions derived thereof, and uses thereof in hydrocarbon recovery. Methods of making olefin sulfonate surfactants are also described.

The present disclosure provides a method of treating a hydrocarbon-containing reservoir. The method involves introducing into the reservoir a surfactant composition. The surfactant composition includes an alpha olefin sulfonate or an isomerized olefin sulfonate. The alpha olefin sulfonate or the isomerized olefin sulfonate is synthesized by i) oligomerizing a monomer comprising a C.sub.3 to C.sub.6 mono-olefin to form an oligomerization product and ii) sulfonating the oligomerization product.

The present disclosure provides a method of treating a hydrocarbon-containing reservoir. The method involves introducing into the reservoir a surfactant composition. The surfactant composition includes an alpha olefin sulfonate or an isomerized olefin sulfonate. The alpha olefin sulfonate or the isomerized olefin sulfonate is synthesized by i) oligomerizing a monomer comprising a C.sub.3 to C.sub.6 mono-olefin to form an oligomerization product and ii) sulfonating the oligomerization product.