The present invention relates to water-soluble hydrophobically associating copolymers which are obtained in the presence of a nonpolymerizable surface-active compound and which comprise novel hydrophobically associating monomers. The monomers comprise an ethylenically unsaturated group and a polyether block, the polyether block comprising a hydrophilic polyethyleneoxy block and a hydrophobic polyalkyleneoxy block consisting of alkyleneoxy units having at least 4 carbon atoms. The monomers may optionally have a terminal polyethyleneoxy block. The invention further relates to processes for preparing the copolymers and to the use thereof.

The present invention relates to water-soluble hydrophobically associating copolymers which are obtained in the presence of a nonpolymerizable surface-active compound and which comprise novel hydrophobically associating monomers. The monomers comprise an ethylenically unsaturated group and a polyether block, the polyether block comprising a hydrophilic polyethyleneoxy block and a hydrophobic polyalkyleneoxy block consisting of alkyleneoxy units having at least 4 carbon atoms. The monomers may optionally have a terminal polyethyleneoxy block. The invention further relates to processes for preparing the copolymers and to the use thereof.

A silicone polymer is provided, modified with at least one functional group from the class of anthraquinone amide groups; anthraquinone sulfonamide groups; thioxanthone amide groups; or thioxanthone sulfone amide groups. The polymer can be combined with a hydrocarbon solvent or with supercritical carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), and is very effective for increasing the viscosity of either medium. A process for the recovery of oil from a subterranean, oil-bearing formation is also described, using supercritical carbon dioxide modified with the functionalized silicone polymer. A process for extracting natural gas or oil from a bedrock-shale formation is also described, again using the modified silicone polymer.

A silicone polymer is provided, modified with at least one functional group from the class of anthraquinone amide groups; anthraquinone sulfonamide groups; thioxanthone amide groups; or thioxanthone sulfone amide groups. The polymer can be combined with a hydrocarbon solvent or with supercritical carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), and is very effective for increasing the viscosity of either medium. A process for the recovery of oil from a subterranean, oil-bearing formation is also described, using supercritical carbon dioxide modified with the functionalized silicone polymer. A process for extracting natural gas or oil from a bedrock-shale formation is also described, again using the modified silicone polymer.

A process for recovering oil and gas from an underground formation by injecting an ammonia containing enhanced oil recovery formulation into the oil-bearing formation, which process comprises (i) reacting steam with methane containing gas, (ii) combining the reaction mixture obtained with further steam, (iii) removing carbon dioxide to obtain hydrogen, (iv) reacting at least part of the hydrogen with nitrogen, (v) separating off ammonia, (vi) mixing ammonia with water and injecting it into the underground formation, (vii) recovering oil and gas, (viii) separating methane from the fluid recovered from the recovery well, (ix) removing sulfur compounds, and (ix) using in step (i) the methane obtained in step (viii).

A process for recovering oil and gas from an underground formation by injecting an ammonia containing enhanced oil recovery formulation into the oil-bearing formation, which process comprises (i) reacting steam with methane containing gas, (ii) combining the reaction mixture obtained with further steam, (iii) removing carbon dioxide to obtain hydrogen, (iv) reacting at least part of the hydrogen with nitrogen, (v) separating off ammonia, (vi) mixing ammonia with water and injecting it into the underground formation, (vii) recovering oil and gas, (viii) separating methane from the fluid recovered from the recovery well, (ix) removing sulfur compounds, and (ix) using in step (i) the methane obtained in step (viii).

A composition includes an aqueous colloidal dispersion of a nanomaterial. The nanomaterial includes, disposed on a surface of the nanomaterial, a first coupling agent including silane and a functional group including an amino acid. The nanomaterial includes, disposed on the surface of the nanomaterial, a second coupling agent including silane and a polymer with a molecular weight between 1,000 and 20,000.

A composition includes an aqueous colloidal dispersion of a nanomaterial. The nanomaterial includes, disposed on a surface of the nanomaterial, a first coupling agent including silane and a functional group including an amino acid. The nanomaterial includes, disposed on the surface of the nanomaterial, a second coupling agent including silane and a polymer with a molecular weight between 1,000 and 20,000.

Embodiments of treating fluid comprising hydrocarbons, water, and polymer being produced from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation are provided. One embodiment comprises adding a concentration of a viscosity reducer to the fluid to degrade the polymer present in the fluid and adding a concentration of a neutralizer to the fluid to neutralize the viscosity reducer in the fluid. The addition of the concentration of the viscosity reducer is in a sufficient quantity to allow for complete chemical degradation of the polymer prior to the addition of the concentration of the neutralizer in the fluid such that excess viscosity reducer is present in the fluid. The addition of the concentration of the neutralizer is sufficiently upstream of any surface fluid processing equipment to allow for complete neutralization of the excess viscosity reducer such that excess neutralizer is present in the fluid prior to the fluid reaching any of the surface fluid processing equipment.

Embodiments of treating fluid comprising hydrocarbons, water, and polymer being produced from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation are provided. One embodiment comprises adding a concentration of a viscosity reducer to the fluid to degrade the polymer present in the fluid and adding a concentration of a neutralizer to the fluid to neutralize the viscosity reducer in the fluid. The addition of the concentration of the viscosity reducer is in a sufficient quantity to allow for complete chemical degradation of the polymer prior to the addition of the concentration of the neutralizer in the fluid such that excess viscosity reducer is present in the fluid. The addition of the concentration of the neutralizer is sufficiently upstream of any surface fluid processing equipment to allow for complete neutralization of the excess viscosity reducer such that excess neutralizer is present in the fluid prior to the fluid reaching any of the surface fluid processing equipment.