Foam assisted liquid removal using alcohol ether sulfonates

A method of removing a fluid from a gas or oil well, a wellbore, or a pipeline, the method comprising:

• introducing a composition into a gas well, an oil well, a wellbore, or a pipeline in an amount effective for foaming a fluid within the well, the wellbore, or the pipeline to recover the fluid from the well or the pipeline, the fluid comprising a hydrocarbon, water or a combination thereof, and the composition comprising an alcohol ether sulfonate having formula I:
• wherein:
• R1 is alkyl;
• R2 is alkylene;
• R3 and R4 are each independently ethylene or propylene;
• R5 is hydroxyl and R6 is —SO3M, or R5 is —SO3M and R6 is hydroxyl;
• M is independently an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, hydronium, NH3 or NH2;
• and
• a and b are each independently an integer from 0 to 30, and a+b equals 1 to 60.