Bp Chemicals Limited

The British Petroleum Company, P.l.c.

Nevin John Stewart

Stephen Paul Goodwin

Ian Ralph Collins

Andrew Richard Lucy

Richard George Chapman

Philip K Hodgson

Nicholas John Hazel

James Charles Morgan

Stephen John Dossett

Philip W Ambler

A method of recovering or increasing the recovery of oil and/or gas from an underground formation involving injecting into the formation, preferably in the form of an aqueous solution, at least one mono alkyl ether of polyethylene glycol in which the alkyl group has 3-5 carbons and the polyethylene glycol contains 3-6 ethylene oxy units e.g. butyl ether of triethylene glycol. Especially preferred are mixtures comprising that and at least one mono alkyl ether of mono or di ethylene glycol e.g. a mixture of butyl triglycol ether, butyl tetraglycol ether, butyl pentaglycol ether and butyl diglycol ether. The method of the invention may be applied to well stimulation treatments such as water blocking, sand consolidation, sandstone acidizing and methods of increasing the recovery of oil such as tertiary oil recovery.

Use of oil and gas field chemicals

The invention relates to a process for increasing the effectiveness of production chemicals by reducing the number of squeezing and shut-in operations needed to increase the production rate from an oil well. The process includes injecting into an oil-bearing rock formation matrix a water-miscible formulation comprising: (a) a water-miscible surfactant which is an alkyltriglycol ether and (b) at least one water-miscible oil field or gas field production chemical. Components (a) and (b) are introduced either as a pre-formed, single, homogeneous composition, or simultaneously in parallel or sequentially in either order into the rock formation. After introduction of (a) and (b) into the oil-bearing rock formation, the well is shut-in for a period and, subsequently, the oil-bearing rock formation matrix is over-flushed with an oil.

Process for increasing effectiveness of production chemicals by reducing number of squeezing and shut-in operations required to increase production rate from an oil well

A catalyst composition prepared by reacting together:

Catalyst compositions

2-methylbutoxy ethoxyethanol

Ether cosolvents for resin formulations

This invention relates to a process for increasing the effectiveness of production chemicals by reducing the number of squeezing and shut-in operations needed to increase the production rate from an oil well. The process includes injecting into an oil-bearing rock formation a water-miscible formulation including as components: (a) a water-miscible surfactant which is an alkyltriglycol ether and (b) at least one water-miscible oil field or gas field production chemical, said components of the formulation being introduced either as a pre-formed single composition, or simultaneously in parallel or sequentially in either order into the rock formation via the production well.

Oil and gas field chemicals

This invention relates to a process for the polymerization of an olefinic feedstock comprising one or more of butene-1, butene-2 and iso-butene by bringing the feedstock into contact with an ionic liquid comprising a) an aluminium compound of the formula R.sub.n AlX.sub.3-n wherein R is a C1-C6 alkyl radical, X is a halogen atom and n is 0, 1 or 2, and b) a substituted imidazolium and/or a substituted pyridinium halide such that the melting point of the ionic liquid is below the reaction temperature in the range from -50.degree. C. to +100.degree. C. The polymers so produced can be used to react with alkenyl succinimides which are useful fuel and lubricating oil additives.

Preparation of butene polymers using an ionic liquid

Alkyl-, aryl- or alkylaryl-alkoxy halides are prepared by reacting the corresponding alcohol, phenol or alkyl phenol with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide in the presence of an amine catalyst to form an alkoxy alcohol, and directly reacting the latter with a halogenating agent in the continuing presence of the amine catalyst. Neutralization of the product and/or catalyst removal from the first stage is no longer necessary and reaction rates and yields are increased in the second stage.

Preparation of alkoxy halides

Alkyl-, aryl-, or alkylaryl-alkoxy ethane sulphonates are prepared by reacting the corresponding halides with potassium or ammonium sulphite in the presence of water in amount less than 50% by weight of the alkoxy ethane halide. Reducing the water content of the reaction mixture to a low level increases the throughput and yield and reduces the increase in viscosity of the reaction mixture as the reaction proceeds.

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Guildford, United Kingdom

Nevin John Stewart