# US 10,370,583 B2 · Aminosulphonate foam stabilizers

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- Number: US 10,370,583 B2
- Document ID: US10370583B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/311,305
- Filed: 2015-05-04
- Published: 2017-04-20
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-05-15
- Assignees: Rhodia Operations
- Applicants: Rhodia Operations
- Inventors: Mikel Morvan; Max Chabert
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370583B2

## CPC

- C09K 8/584: characterised by the use of specific surfactants
- C09K 8/594: Compositions used in combination with injected gas {, e.g. CO2 orcarbonated gas}(C09K8/592 takes precedence)
- C09K 8/94: Foams
- E21B 43/168: {Injecting a gaseous medium}
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of an aminosulphonate compound corresponding to the following formula (I): R1R2N—CHR3—CHR4—CHR5—SO3− (I) where: •R1 is a preferably C2 to C24 alkyl or alkylamido radical; •R2 is an optionally hydroxylated alkyl radical; •R3, R4 and R5 are, independently of one another, H or OH; it being understood that at least one of the R3, R4 and/or R5 groups is OH, for stabilizing a foam, in particular a foam used to extract hydrocarbons in an underground formation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for improving the stability of foams in an aqueous foaming composition, the method comprising adding to the aqueous foaming composition a foam stabilizer consisting of an aminosulfonate compound corresponding to the following formula:
or a mixture of the aminosulfonate compound and its protonated form, wherein the aqueous foaming composition does not comprise an anionic surfactant and wherein the aqueous foaming composition does not comprise a foam stabilizer other than the aminosulfonate compound.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein a mixture of the aminosulfonate compound and its protonated form is added and the protonated form/non-protonated form molar ratio is less than 10%.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein the protonated form/non-protonated form molar ratio is less than 1%.

### Claim 4

A method for the extraction of hydrocarbons present in a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
(a) forming a foam from a foaming composition comprising: a foam stabilizer consisting of an aminosulfonate compound or a mixture of the aminosulfonate compound and its protonated form; and a gas appropriate for bringing about the expansion in volume of the foaming composition; wherein the aminosulfonate compound corresponds to the following formula:
and wherein the foaming composition does not comprise an anionic surfactant and wherein the foaming composition does not comprise a foam stabilizer other than the aminosulfonate compound,
(b) injecting said foam within said formation, and
(c) extracting the hydrocarbons via a well in the subterranean formation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the foaming composition is an aqueous composition.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the foaming composition comprises at a content of 0.01% to 10% by weight, with respect to the total weight of water, the aminosulfonate compound or mixture of the aminosulfonate compound and its protonated form.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the foaming composition comprises at a content of 0.1% to 1% by weight, with respect to the total weight of water, the aminosulfonate compound or mixture of the aminosulfonate compound and its protonated form.