# US 2019/0169492 A1 · Methods and compositions for stimulating the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0169492 A1 - Document ID: US20190169492A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/206,304 - Filed: 2018-11-30 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: Flotek Chemistry, LLC - Applicants: Flotek Chemistry, LLC - Inventors: Randal M. Hill; Paul Ashcraft; Angus Fursdon-Welsh; Lakia M. Champagne; Natalie Forbes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169492A1 ## CPC - C09K 8/86: containing organic compounds - C09K 8/602: {containing surfactants} - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract Emulsion or microemulsion for treating an oil or gas well having a wellbore are provided, and related methods. In some embodiments, the emulsion or microemulsion comprises an aqueous phase; a surfactant; and a non-aqueous phase comprising a first type of solvent and a second type of solvent. In some embodiments, the first type of solvent is a long chain hydrocarbon. In some embodiments, the second type of solvent is an oxygenated solvent. The emulsion or microemulsion may comprise additional components (e.g., at least one type of co-solvent). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microemulsion for treating an oil or gas well having a wellbore, comprising: a surfactant; an aqueous phase; and a non-aqueous phase comprising a first type of solvent and a second type of solvent, wherein the first type of solvent is a long chain hydrocarbon solvent, and the second type of solvent is an oxygenated solvent. ### Claim 2 A method of treating an oil or gas well having a wellbore, comprising: injecting an emulsion or microemulsion into the wellbore of the oil or gas well to stimulate the production of hydrocarbons, wherein the emulsion or microemulsion comprises a surfactant; an aqueous phase; and a non-aqueous phase comprising a first type of solvent and a second type of solvent, wherein the first type of solvent is a long chain hydrocarbon solvent, and the second type of solvent is an oxygenated solvent. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first type of solvent of solvent to the second type of solvent is between about 11:4 to about 1:1 or between about 5:1 to about 1:5 by weight. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the first type of solvent comprises a C12-22 hydrocarbon compound or a plurality of C12-22 hydrocarbon compounds. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the first type of solvent comprises a C12-18 alpha-olefin solvent or a plurality of C12-18 alpha-olefin solvents. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the first type of solvent is present in an amount of about 1 wt % to about 20 wt % versus the total microemulsion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the second type of solvent is a C6-18 alcohol or a plurality of C6-18 alcohols. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the second type of solvent is octanol or an isomer thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the second type of solvent is isooctanol. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the second type of solvent is present in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 25 wt % versus the total microemulsion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the aqueous phase comprises water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the aqueous phase is present in an amount of about 5 wt % to about 75 wt % versus the total microemulsion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the surfactant is an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the surfactant is present in an amount of about 5 wt % to about 40 wt % versus the total microemulsion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the microemulsion is stable at temperatures from about −10° C. to about 55° C. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the microemulsion further comprises at least one co-solvent. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the co-solvent is a C1-6 alcohol, a C1-7 alkylene glycol, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the microemulsion comprises from about 1 wt % and about 5 wt %, or from about 1 wt % and about 3 wt %, or about 2 wt % of a first type of co-solvent, versus the total microemulsion, wherein the first type of co-solvent is a C1-6 alcohol. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the C1-6 alcohol is isopropanol. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the microemulsion comprises from about 15 wt %o and about 25 wt %, or from about 17 wt % and about 22 wt % of a second type of co-solvent, versus the total microemulsion, wherein the second type of co-solvent is C1-7 alkylene glycol. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the C1-7 alkylene glycol is propylene glycol. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The microemulsion of claim 1, wherein the microemulsion comprises: from about 10 wt % to about 20 wt % of the surfactant; from about 30 wt % to about 69 wt % of the aqueous phase; from about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % of the non-aqueous phase comprising the first type of solvent and the second type of solvent, wherein the first type of solvent is a long chain hydrocarbon solvent, and the second type of solvent is an oxygenated solvent. wherein the ratio of the first type of solvent of solvent to the second type of solvent is between about 11:4 to about 1:1, or between about 5:1 to about 1:5 by weight; from about 1 wt % to about 5 wt % of a first type of co-solvent, wherein the first type of co-solvent is a C1-6 alcohol; and from about 15 wt % to about 25 wt of a second type of co-solvent, wherein the second type of co-solvent is C1-7 alkylene glycol, versus the total microemulsion.