Steam foam methods for steam-assisted gravity drainage

    公开(公告)号:US10590749B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-03-17

    申请号:US15503293

    申请日:2015-07-31

    Applicant: Stepan Company

    Abstract: Methods for making efficient use of steam in a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process for recovering heavy oils from tar sands and similar petroleum deposits are disclosed. The methods utilize a surfactant to generate steam foam in ways that maximize efficient use of steam. In some aspects, steam foam is used in water layers or gas caps that reside above steam chambers to prevent loss of steam from the steam chamber. The predominant use of relatively dry steam in SAGD processes makes it challenging to find ways to introduce surfactants and generate steam foam. However, decreasing the mobility of the steam by converting at least some of it to foam allows the wellbore and steam chambers above the injection site to be more fully developed, provides for more effective heat transfer to the heavy oil and rock, improves production, and allows recovery of the heavy oil with a minimum amount of steam usage.

    Synergistic surfactant blends
    112.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US10513670B2

    公开(公告)日:2019-12-24

    申请号:US15482932

    申请日:2017-04-10

    Applicant: STEPAN COMPANY

    Abstract: Synergistic surfactant blends are disclosed. In one aspect, the blend comprises an anionic surfactant and a metathesis-based cationic surfactant comprising a quaternized derivative. The quaternized derivative is a quaternized fatty amine, quaternized fatty amidoamine, imidazoline quat, or esteramine quat made from a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid or its ester derivative. Also disclosed are synergistic surfactant blends comprising a cationic surfactant and a metathesis-based anionic surfactant comprising a sulfonated derivative. The sulfonated derivative is a fatty ester sulfonate, fatty acid sulfonate, sulfoestolide, fatty amide sulfonate, sulfonated fatty ester alkoxylate, imidazoline quat sulfonate, sulfonated amidoamine oxide, or sulfonated amidoamine betaine. The synergistic blends have a negative β value or a reduced interfacial tension (IFT) when compared with an expected IFT value calculated from the individual surfactant components. Blends of the invention also exhibit surprisingly favorable solubility profiles. The surfactant blends are useful for laundry detergents, dish detergents, household or industrial cleaners, personal care products, agricultural products, building materials, oil recovery compositions, emulsion polymers, and other practical applications.

    Method of sulfonation of block polymers
    119.
    发明授权
    Method of sulfonation of block polymers 有权
    嵌段聚合物的磺化方法

    公开(公告)号:US09587106B2

    公开(公告)日:2017-03-07

    申请号:US14486604

    申请日:2014-09-15

    Applicant: Stepan Company

    Abstract: Improved methods for preparing sulfonated block polymers with acyl sulfates in non-halogenated aliphatic solvents are provided. The methods include the sulfonation of a precursor block polymer with an acyl sulfate in a reaction mixture further comprising at least one non-halogenated aliphatic solvent to form a sulfonated block polymer, wherein the initial concentration of the precursor block polymer is in the range of from about 0.1 wt % to a concentration that is below the limiting concentration of the precursor block polymer based on the total weight of the reaction mixture. A sulfonation degree of greater than about 1.0 milliequivalent sulfonic acid per gram sulfonated block polymer can be achieved substantially free of polymer precipitation and free of disabling gelation.

    Abstract translation: 提供了在非卤代脂族溶剂中制备具有酰基硫酸盐的磺化嵌段聚合物的改进方法。 所述方法包括在还含有至少一种非卤代脂族溶剂的反应混合物中使用酰基硫酸酯磺化前体嵌段聚合物以形成磺化嵌段聚合物,其中前体嵌段聚合物的初始浓度范围为 约0.1重量%至低于前体嵌段聚合物的极限浓度的浓度,基于反应混合物的总重量。 可以实现大于约1.0毫当量磺酸/克磺化嵌段聚合物的磺化度,基本上不含聚合物沉淀并且没有失效的凝胶化。

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