# US 11,999,901 B2 · Multifunctional wax dispersant for subterranean chemical applications > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,901 B2 - Document ID: US11999901B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/307,714 - Filed: 2023-04-26 - Published: 2023-12-28 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-04-28 - Assignees: Evonik Operations GmbH - Applicants: Evonik Operations GmbH - Inventors: Liang Xu; Sofia Sirak; Iryna Zhuk; Claudia Meister - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999901B2 ## CPC - C09K 8/524: organic depositions, e.g. paraffins or asphaltenes - C09K 8/584: characterised by the use of specific surfactants - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract A composition for use as a multifunctional wax dispersant can treat subterranean formations for the recovery of oil and gas from oil and gas wells. A process can be used for the preparation thereof. A method for treating a crude oil with a wax dispersant composition according to the present invention reduces interfacial tension between the crude oil and the treatment fluids in the recovery of oil and gas from crude oil and gas wells. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wax dispersant composition for subterranean applications, comprising: a carrier medium, and the following compounds: A) a nonionic alcohol ethoxylate, B) an alkylbenzene sulfonate, and C) a bifunctional quaternary ammonium chloride salt of Formula (IV) wherein A is a branched or unbranched C1 to C4 alkyl residue, X is OY or NHY, and Y is H, C1-C3 alkyl residue, C(═O)C(CH3)═CH2, C(═O)CH═CH2, C(═O)CH(CH3)CH3, or C(═O)CH2CH3, wherein a weight ratio of a total amount of compound A) and compound B) to an amount of compound C) is from 7:1 to 25:1. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of compound A) and compound B) to compound C) In the wax dispersant composition is from 7:1 to 20:1. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 1, wherein the compound A) is an alcohol ethoxylate with the Formula R(OC2H4)nOH, wherein R is a branched or linear aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical containing from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, and wherein n ranges from 2 to 14. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 3, wherein the compound A) has an average of 1 to 10 ethylene oxide groups with an HLB value of from 5 to 15. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 1, wherein the compound B) is triethanolamine salt of dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 1, wherein in Formula (IV) of compound C), A is an unbranched C1 to C4 alkyl residue. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 1, wherein in Formula (IV) of compound C), X is selected from the group consisting of OY with Y being hydrogen or C(═O)C(CH3)═CH2, and NHY with Y being C(═O)C(CH3)═CH2. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 1, wherein the compound C) of Formula (IV) is 3-trimethylammoniumpropyl methacrylamide chloride, trimethylaminoethyl methacrylate chloride, or a mixture thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 1, wherein a total amount of compound A), compound B), and compound C) is from 10 to 100% by weight, based on a total weight of all compounds in the wax dispersant composition, not including the carrier medium. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a biosurfactant D), which is selected from the group consisting of rhamnolipids, sophorolipids, glucolipids, and a mixture thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 10, wherein the biosurfactant D) is a sophorolipid, in which a ratio by weight of a lactone form to an acid form is in the range of 20:80 to 80:20. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 1, wherein a total content of the carrier medium in the composition is from 10 to 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the wax dispersant composition. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 1, wherein an amount of the carrier medium, compound A), compound B), and compound C) in the wax dispersant composition, sums up to at least 90% by weight, based on a total weight of the wax dispersant composition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method for preparing the wax dispersant composition as defined in claim 1, the method comprising: mixing the carrier medium, the compound A), the compound B), and the compound C), to provide the wax dispersant composition. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method for reducing interfacial tension between crude oil and a treatment fluid in the recovery of oil and gas from crude oil and gas wells, the method comprising: adding the wax dispersant composition according to claim 1 to the crude oil. ### Claim 16 (depends on 3) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 3, wherein R is a branched or linear aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical containing from 8 to 14 carbon atoms. ### Claim 17 (depends on 6) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 6, wherein in Formula (IV) of compound C), A is an unbranched C1 to C2 alkyl residue. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 9, wherein the total amount of compound A), compound B), and compound C) is from 50 to 100% by weight, based on the total weight of all compounds in the wax dispersant composition, not including the carrier medium. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 11, wherein the ratio by weight of the lactone form to the acid form is in the range of 30:70 to 40:60. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The wax dispersant composition according to claim 12, wherein the total content of the carrier medium in the composition is from 30 to 90% by weight.