# US 7,612,022 B2 · Method and composition for enhanced hydrocarbons recovery

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- Number: US 7,612,022 B2
- Document ID: US7612022B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/250,240
- Filed: 2005-10-13
- Published: 2006-02-09
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2003-03-11
- Assignees: Shell Oil Company
- Inventors: Paul Gregory Shpakoff; Kirk Herbert Raney
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612022B2

## CPC

- C09K 8/584: characterised by the use of specific surfactants
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method may include providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to the hydrocarbon containing formation. Hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation may interact with the hydrocarbon recovery composition. The hydrocarbon recovery composition may include an aliphatic anionic surfactant and an aliphatic nonionic additive. In some embodiments, an aliphatic anionic surfactant may be branched. In other embodiments, an aliphatic nonionic additive may be branched.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A composition produced from a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising hydrocarbons, from about 60 wt % to about 90 wt % of a branched aliphatic anionic surfactant which is an acid salt of a primary alcohol having a branched aliphatic group with an average carbon number from 12 to 18 and having an average number of branches per aliphatic group of from about 0.7 to about 2.5 and wherein methyl branches represent from about 20 to about 99 percent of the total number of branches present in the branched aliphatic group and from about 10 wt % to about 40 wt % of an aliphatic nonionic additive.

### Claim 2

A composition produced from a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising hydrocarbons, from about 60 wt % to about 90 wt % of an aliphatic anionic surfactant and from about 10 wt % to about 40 wt % of a branched aliphatic nonionic additive which is a primary alcohol having a branched aliphatic group with an average carbon number from 12 to 18 and having an average number of branches per aliphatic group of from about 0.7 to about 2.5 and wherein methyl branches represent from about 20 to about 99 percent of the total number of branches present in the branched aliphatic group.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 wherein the aliphatic nonionic additive is a primary alcohol having a branched aliphatic group with an average carbon number from 12 to 18 and having an average number of branches per aliphatic group of from about 0.7 to about 2.5 and wherein methyl branches represent from about 20 to about 99 percent of the total number of branches present in the branched aliphatic group.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The composition of claim 3 wherein the branched aliphatic group of the branched aliphatic anionic surfactant has an average carbon number from 16 to 17 and the branched aliphatic group of the nonionic additive has an average carbon number of from 16 to 17.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 wherein the branched aliphatic group of the branched aliphatic anionic surfactant has an average carbon number from 16 to 17.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The composition of claim 2 wherein the branched aliphatic group of the branched aliphatic nonionic additive has an average carbon number from 16 to 17.