Solvent blends for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery process methods

A solvent blend consisting essentially of a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) fraction, a low aromatic solvent (LAS) fraction, and a high aromatic solvent (HAS) fraction, wherein:

• (a) the FAME fraction consists essentially of one or more methyl esters of C14-C18 fatty acids;
• (b) the LAS fraction consists essentially of one or more C9-C20 low aromatic hydrocarbon solvents;
• (c) the HAS fraction consists essentially of one or more C4-C8 high aromatic hydrocarbon solvents;
• and
• (d) the HAS fraction is dispersed within the solvent blend in suspended droplet form.

A method for producing a solvent blend, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing a base blend comprising a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) fraction and a low aromatic solvent (LAS) fraction by mixing the LAS fraction into the FAME fraction so as to disperse the LAS fraction within the FAME fraction in droplet form;
• and
• (b) mixing a high aromatic solvent (HAS) fraction into the base blend so as to disperse the HAS fraction within the base blend in droplet form;
• wherein:
• (c) the FAME fraction consists essentially of one or more methyl esters of C14-C18 fatty acids;
• (d) the LAS fraction consists essentially of one or more C9-C20 low aromatic hydrocarbon solvents;
• and
• (e) the LAS fraction consists essentially of one or more C4-C8 high aromatic hydrocarbon solvents.