Stepan Company

Christopher D Smith

Jacqueline Maas Pytel

David R Allen

Xue Min Dong

Branko Sajic

Irene Shapiro

Jeremy Aaron Weitgenant

Anatoliy A Dameshek

John C Hutchison

Nicholas Pendleton

Jacquelin Maas Pytel

Foamable compositions useful for deliquifying gas wells, particularly gas wells having at least 40 vol. % of a hydrocarbon condensate, are disclosed. The compositions comprise, in addition to the condensate, an aqueous brine and 250 to 10,000 ppm of a monounsaturated betaine or sulfobetaine. A method for deliquifying the production line of a natural gas well is also disclosed. The method comprises introducing into a gas well a monounsaturated betaine or sulfobetaine to form a foamed composition, and removing at least a portion of the foamed composition from the production line. Certain betaines and sulfobetaines are remarkably effective in producing foams useful for gas well deliquification, particularly gas wells characterized by high or very high condensate levels. The inventive compositions and method provide a cost-effective way to enable thousands of gas wells to be utilized more productively.

Foamers for unloading high-condensate gas wells

Alkyl lactyllactate and alkoxylated alkyl lactyllactate compounds that are useful as solvents in a variety of applications are disclosed. The compounds are derived from a hydroxyl containing compound and a lactide or lactic acid source that has a specific chirality. The alkyl lactyllactate and alkoxylated alkyl lactyllactate compounds are particularly suitable for use as solvents in applications requiring cold tolerance performance without inclusion of additional volatile components.

Alkyl lactyllactate solvent compositions

Provided are alkyl lactyllactate compositions that can be prepared from (1) lactide or alternatively lactic acid, and (2) a hydroxyl containing compound such as an alcohol, preferably a fatty alcohol or an alkoxylated alcohol, with (3) an acid catalyst. Preferably, the fatty alcohol contains from about 6 to 18 carbon atoms, such as lauryl alcohol. The alkyl lactyllactates can be used as surfactants, emulsifiers, skin feel agents, film formers, thickeners, rheological modifiers, etc., for personal care and other application areas. Compositions containing at least one alkyl lactyllactate are also provided. The compositions can further contain at least one surfactant.

Alkyl lactyllactates and processes of making the same

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Watkinsville, GA, United States of America

Christopher D Smith