Imperial Chemical Industries Limited

Croda International, Inc.

Terence Cox

Neil Grainger

Edward George Scovell

Roger I Hancock

Petroleum additive formulations include a petroleum additive dissolved in a carrier fluid including at least one compound of the formula (I): (R)-Ph-(CH)&#x2014;COO&#x2014;(AO)&#x2014;Rwhere; Ris Cto Calkyl; AO is alkyleneoxy; n is 0 or from 1 to 100; m is 0, 1 or 2; and Ph is a phenyl group, which may be substituted with groups (R); where each Ris independently Cto Cor alkoxy; and p is 0, 1 or 2. Further, crude petroleum or petroleum refinery streams can be treated by adding a petroleum additive dissolved in a carrier fluid of the formula (I) to the product stream. Desirably the carrier fluid is or includes iso-propyl benzoate and/or 2-ethyl hexyl benzoate.

Oil production additive formulations

Drilling, completing or workover of a well, particularly an oil and/or gas well, is carried out using a fluid which includes a continuous phase including an ester of the formula (I): (R)-Ph-(CH)&#x2014;COO-(AO)-Rwhere R, AO, n, m, Ph, Rand p have defined meanings and particularly where the esters are alkyl or alkenyl benzoate esters. These esters are beneficial by having a range of viscosities, especially extending to low viscosities, and attractive toxicological and environmental profiles for use in drilling, completion and/or workover of wells.

Drilling fluids and method of drilling

Stimulation, particularly fracturing or acidising, of hydrocarbon wells having bores leading to hydrocarbon bearing uses a fluid including a continuous phase of or including a compound of the formula (1): (R)&#x2014;Ph&#x2014;(CH)&#x2014;COO&#x2014;(AO)&#x2014;Rwhere R, AO, n, m, Ph, Rand p having defined meanings and particularly where the esters are alkyl or alkenyl benzoate esters. These esters are beneficial by having a range of viscosities, especially extending to low viscosities, and attractive toxicological and environmental profiles for use in well stimulation.

Method of oil/gas well stimulation

A thickener and surfactant for a driving fluid used in enhanced oil recovery comprises a salt of a sulphated polyoxyethylene alcohol in which at least 40 wt % of the alcohol portion of the sulphated polyoxyethylene alcohol is a C.sub.8 to C.sub.20 primary alcohol having a C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 alkyl substituent in the 2-position of an otherwise linear chain. The balance of the alcohol portion may be made up of a linear primary alcohol of same carbon number as the 2-alkyl branched alcohol.

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Saltburn by Sea, United Kingdom

Terence Cox