Surfactant compositions
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorsDouglas G. Naae, Gregory A. Winslow, Varadarajan Dwarakanath, Taimur Malik, Gayani Pinnawala Arachchilage
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Abstract
Provided herein are novel surfactant compositions and methods having application in a variety of fields including enhanced oil recovery, the cleaning industry as well as groundwater remediation. The surfactant compositions are based on lignin bio-oil with a phenol hydroxyl group as the main functional group. The compositions include carboxylic surfactant s and mixed hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfactant structures, which can be used for the recovery of crude oil compositions from challenging reservoirs.
Claims23
A lignin amphiphile comprising:
- a lipophilic portion of the lignin amphiphile comprising a lignin phenol characterized as having an oxygen content of <=7%, a phenolic to carboxylic ratio ranging from 90:10 to 99:1, and an average molecular weight ranging from 150 to 450;
- and
- a hydrophilic portion of the lignin amphiphile comprising the general formula:
- O-EOw—(CH2—CH(R)—O)x-EOw—POy-EOz—X(Y)aMb+,
- wherein EO corresponds to an ethoxy group,
- w is an integer from 0 to 25,
- wherein —(CH2—CH(R)—O) corresponds to an alkylates group,
- R in any alkyl group that independently has a carbon number being an integer of 2-20,
- wherein PO corresponds to a propoxy group,
- y is an integer from 0 to 50,
- z is an integer from 0 to 70,
- wherein w+y+z is at least 40,
- wherein X is selected from a single bond, an alkylene group with 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkenylene group with 2 to 10 carbon atoms,
- wherein Y is an anionic group selected from the group of hydroxy groups, sulfate groups, sulfonate groups, carboxylate groups, phosphate groups or phosphonate groups,
- wherein M is selected from the group consisting of H+, Na+, K+, Li+, Mg+, Ca2+, and NH4+,
- wherein a corresponds to an integer from 1 or 3, and
- wherein b corresponds to an integer from 1 to 3.
A method of producing a lignin amphiphile from lignin, the method comprising:
- providing a lignin phenol characterized as having an oxygen content of <=7%, a phenolic to carboxylic ratio ranging from 90:10 to 99:1, and an average molecular weight ranging from 150 to 450, and wherein the lignin phenol is produced in a reduction reaction at a hydrogen partial pressure from about 3.4 MPa (500 psig) to about 15 MPa (2200 psig);
- and
- converting the lignin phenol into the lignin amphiphile in one or more reactions of alkoxylation, alkylation, sulfonation, sulfation, alkoxysulfation, sulfomethylation, sulfoalkylation, carboxylation, carboxymethylation, carboxyalkylation, or combinations thereof, wherein the lignin amphiphile comprises at least 40 and less than 71 alkylene oxide units.
A method for enhancing oil recovery, comprising:
- (a) providing a wellbore in fluid communication with a subsurface reservoir containing hydrocarbons therewithin;
- (b) providing a lignin amphiphile, wherein:
- the lignin amphiphile was prepared via conversion of a lignin phenol in one or more reactions of alkoxylation, alkylation, sulfonation, sulfation, alkoxysulfation, sulfomethylation, sulfoalkylation, carboxylation, carboxymethylation, carboxyalkylation, or combinations thereof, and the lignin phenol is characterized as having an oxygen content of <=7%, a phenolic to carboxylic ratio ranging from 90:10 to 98:2, and an average molecular weight ranging from 150 to 450, and wherein the lignin phenol is produced in a reduction reaction at a hydrogen partial pressure from about 3.4 MPa (500 psig) to about 15 MPa (2200 psig), wherein the lignin amphiphile comprises at least 40 and less than 71 alkylene oxide units;
- (c) forming an injection solution by mixing water with the lignin amphiphile;
- and
- (d) injecting the injection solution through the wellbore into the subsurface reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.