Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Nordson Corporation

Texaco Inc.

Robert George Shong

Gregory Arthur Winslow

Varadarajan Dwarakanath

Sophany Thach

Walter H Cobbs, Jr

Taimur Malik

William R Rehman

Robert L Horton

Marlon Solano

Varadarjan Dwarakanath

Varadarajab Dwarakanath

The present disclosure relates to the use of a multicarboxylate, such as an alkyl alkoxy dicarboxylate, in enhanced oil recovery processes. Embodiments relate to an aqueous stream and the use thereof. The aqueous stream includes a compound having the chemical formula: R—R—R, wherein Rincludes a branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or non-cyclic, hydrophobic carbon chain having an oxygen atom linking Rand R; Rincludes an alkoxylated chain comprising ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, or a combination thereof; and Rincludes a branched or unbranched hydrocarbon chain and 2-5 —COOH or —COOM groups wherein M is a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent cation. Rincludes 2-12 carbon atoms.

Method of using multicarboxylate compositions in enhanced oil recovery

The present disclosure relates to the use of a multicarboxylate, such as an alkyl alkoxy dicarboxylate, in enhanced oil recovery processes. Embodiments relate to an aqueous stream and the use thereof. The aqueous stream includes a compound having the chemical formula: R-R-R, wherein Rincludes a branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or non-cyclic, hydrophobic carbon chain having an oxygen atom linking Rand R; Rincludes an alkoxylated chain comprising ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, or a combination thereof; and Rincludes a branched or unbranched hydrocarbon chain and 2-5 &#x2014;COOH or &#x2014;COOM groups wherein M is a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent cation. Rincludes 2-12 carbon atoms.

Additional oil recovery is obtained from a reservoir with a composition comprising at least a coupling solvent typically employed in waterborne coating compositions. Provided herein are embodiments of methods of recovering hydrocarbons using at least one coupling solvent, such as an oxygenated coupling solvent. The coupling solvent increases the mutual solubility with water at the injection temperature to facilitate the mixing and injection, particularly with an optional co-solvent. The coupling solvent helps mitigate formation plugging and improve performance when injected into a formation, as the solvent mixture moves from being miscible in the injection field water to being miscible in the reservoir oil, mobilizing the reservoir oil to increase oil recovery.

Enhanced oil recovery compositions and methods thereof

Additional oil recovery is obtained from a reservoir with a composition comprising at least a coupling solvent typically employed in waterborne coating compositions. Embodiments include recovering hydrocarbons using at least one coupling solvent, such as an oxygenated coupling solvent. The coupling solvent increases the mutual solubility with water at the injection temperature to facilitate the mixing and injection, particularly with an optional co-solvent. The coupling solvent helps mitigate formation plugging and improve performance when injected into a formation, as the solvent mixture moves from being miscible in the injection field water to being miscible in the reservoir oil, mobilizing the reservoir oil to increase oil recovery.

The present disclosure relates to the use of a multicarboxylate, such as an alkyl alkoxy dicarboxylate, in enhanced oil recovery processes. A specific embodiment relates to the use of an aqueous stream including a compound having the chemical formula: R&#x2014;R&#x2014;R, wherein Rcomprises a branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or non-cyclic, hydrophobic carbon chain having 7-150 carbon atoms; an oxygen atom linking Rand R; Rcomprises an alkoxylated chain comprising ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, or a combination thereof; and Rcomprises a branched or unbranched hydrocarbon chain comprising 2-12 carbon atoms and 2-5 &#x2014;COOH or &#x2014;COOM groups wherein M is a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent cation.

The present disclosure generally relates to a multicarboxylate, such as an alkyl alkoxy dicarboxylate a method of making the multicarboxylate, and methods to use the multicarboxylate. A specific embodiment of the disclosure is a compound comprising the chemical formula: R-R-R, wherein Rcomprises a branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or non-cyclic, hydrophobic carbon chain having 7-150 carbon atoms; an oxygen atom linking Rand R; Rcomprises an alkoxylated chain comprising ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, or a combination thereof; and Rcomprises a branched or unbranched hydrocarbon chain comprising 2-12 carbon atoms and 2-5 &#x2014;COOH or &#x2014;COOM groups wherein M is a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent cation. The composition has a variety of uses but in some embodiments may be used in enhanced oil recovery processes.

Multicarboxylate compositions and method of making the same

In an embodiment of the disclosure, mixtures of different carbon length alcohols are used as the primary feedstock for Guerbet alcohols. Specifically, embodiments relate to a method of synthesizing mixed molecular weight additives from a mixture of primary alcohols comprising, receiving a mixture of primary alcohols having greater than two different chain length primary alcohols and reacting the mixture of primary alcohols in a single reactor to produce a mixture of at least five Guerbet alcohols. The mixture of Guerbet alcohols can then be used to produce an additive or surfactant composition comprising additives or surfactants of different molecular weights.

Mixed carbon length synthesis of primary guerbet alcohols

In an embodiment of the disclosure, mixtures of different carbon length alcohols are used as the primary feedstock for Guerbet alcohols. Specifically, embodiments relate to a method of synthesizing mixed molecular weight additives from a mixture of primary alcohols comprising, receiving a mixture of primary alcohols comprising at least two different chain length primary alcohols and reacting the mixture of primary alcohols to produce a mixture of Guerbet alcohols. The mixture of Guerbet alcohols is then used to produce an additive composition comprising additives of different molecular weights.

Mixed carbon length synthesis of primary Guerbet alcohols

In an embodiment of the disclosure, mixtures of different carbon length alcohols are used as the primary feedstock for Guerbet alcohols. Specifically, embodiments relate to a method of synthesizing mixed molecular weight surfactants from a mixture of primary alcohols comprising, receiving a mixture of primary alcohols comprising at least two different chain length primary alcohols and reacting the mixture of primary alcohols to produce a mixture of Guerbet alcohols. The mixture of Guerbet alcohols is then used to produce a surfactant composition comprising surfactants of different molecular weights.

A method of recovering polychlorinated biphenyls from solution, which comprises a multi-step method of mixing and reacting an alkali metal or alkaline earth hydroxide in glycol solution with polychlorinated biphenyls in non-aqueous solvent to form biphenyl phenoxy-type anions, separating the glycol solution containing biphenyl phenoxy-type anions from the non-aqueous solvent, and separating the biphenyl phenoxy-type anions from the glycol solution.

Recovering polychlorinated biphenyls from solution

A method of recovering polychlorinated biphenyls by mixing and reacting a soluble polymer with polychlorinated biphenyls in non-aqueous solvent to form a precipitate reaction complex of the polymer and biphenyl, and separating the precipitate from the solvent, said polymer having the formula: ##STR1##

Surface coating methods and compositions are disclosed which eliminate many of the disadvantages associated with known coating processes from pollution, equipment, materials, energy, labor and cost standpoints. According to techniques described, thermosetting liquid compositions containing film-forming solids are formulated, then conveyed in the foam state toward a surface, and upon foam disintegration, form a film of solids on the surface. The foamable thermosetting resin compositions contain a curable resin having a free hydroxyl or carboxyl group, a curing agent consisting of a lower (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4) alkoxylated amine for reaction with the resin hydroxyl or carboxyl group and a liquid blowing agent consisting of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkanol which is also a by-product of the thermosetting reaction.

Foamable thermosetting compositions and methods of coating therewith

Foamed hot melt adhesives are made and employed by methods which offer significant advantages and economies. The method employs surfactant stabilizers in making hot melt adhesive foams which are very useful in bonding substrates with efficiency and superior bond strengths. Continuous and reliable foaming operations are achieved with a uniform quality and output of foamed materials. Hot melt adhesives are also capable of being foamed with relatively simple mechanical apparatus and under conditions which provide considerable savings of energy. The number of hot melts which can be foamed employing the present technique in a controlled manner is unlimited. The method of stabilization is conducted at low or ambient pressures and resulting stabilized hot melt adhesive gas dispersions may then be pumped with pressurization and dispensed with immediate foaming.

Bonding with foamed hot melt adhesives

Surface coating methods and apparatus are disclosed which eliminate many of the disadvantages associated with known coating processes from pollution, equipment, materials, energy, labor and cost standpoints. According to techniques described, liquid compositions containing film-forming solids are formulated, then conveyed in the foam state towards a surface, and upon foam disintegration, form a film of solids on the surface. The techniques disclosed eliminate the need for solvents in paints or reduce volatile content to very minimal amounts. This method also enables polymeric compositions having high molecular weight to be employed as coating materials. Furthermore, the method has utility in nearly all coating processes where the film-forming solids are conveyed from a bulk state to a surface for coating.

Method of coating with film-forming solids

Foamed thermoplastic materials such as coatings, adhesives and structural bodies are made by a method which offers significant advantages and economies. The method involves the steps of stabilizing a dispersion of gas in a molten thermoplastic material by adding a surfactant to the molten material in a sufficient stabilizing amount and subsequently pressurizing the stabilized dispersion to form a hot solution. Thereafter, the hot solution is dispensed under lower pressure whereby the gas is released from solution to form a foamed material. The method is especially advantageous in making hot melt thermoplastic adhesives which are very useful in bonding substrates with efficiency and superior bond strengths. Continuous and reliable foaming operations are achieved with a uniform quality and output of foamed materials. Thermoplastic materials are also capable of being foamed with relatively simple mechanical apparatus and under conditions which provide considerable savings of energy. The number of thermoplastic materials which can be foamed employing the present technique in a controlled manner is unlimited. The method of stabilization is conducted at low or ambient pressures and resulting stabilized hot thermoplastic-gas dispersions may then be pumped with pressurization and dispensed with immediate foaming.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Robert George Shong