Abstract:
A three component surfactant system usable in the presence of from about 1,500 to about 12,000 parts per million polyvalent ions, such as calcium and/or magnesium, and a method of using said surfactant system for recovering petroleum from subterranean formations, said surfactant system comprising a water soluble salt of an alkyl or alkylaryl sulfonate anionic surfactant plus a water soluble salt of an alkyl polyethoxy sulfate anionic surfactant plus a nonionic surfactant such as a polyethoxylated alkyl phenol, a polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol or a fatty acid mono- or dialkanolamide.
Abstract:
A two component surfactant system usable in the presence of from about 3,000 to about 18,000 parts per million polyvalent ions, including calcium and or magnesium, and a method of using said dual surfactant system for recovering petroleum from subterranean formations, said surfactant system comprising a water soluble salt of a linear alkyl or a linear alkylaryl sulfonate first anionic surfactant plus a water soluble salt of an alkyl polyethoxy sulfate second anionic surfactant.
Abstract:
A dual surfactant system usable in the presence of from about 500 to about 9,000 parts per million polyvalent ions, such as calcium and/or magnesium, and a method of using said surfactant system for recovering petroleum from subterranean formations, said surfactant system comprising a water soluble salt of an alkyl or an alkylaryl sulfonate or phosphate wherein the alkyl chain has from 5 to 25 carbon atoms, plus a nonionic surfactant such as a polyethyoxylated alkyl phenol or a polyethyoxylated aliphatic alcohol.