Ecolab USA Inc.

Championx USA Inc.

Tzu-ping Hsu

Duy T Nguyen

Jenny L Phan

Tri Phan

Compositions and methods for increasing recovery, or flowback, of hydrocarbon compounds from hydrocarbon-containing subterranean oil formations. Concentrates include a sulfonated and/or a sulfated surfactant, an alkoxylated alcohol surfactant, a coupling agent, a hydrotrope, an additional surfactant, and water. Injectate compositions for oil recovery include the concentrate and a water source such as a produced water and/or seawater. Inclusion of particular hydrotropes such as sodium xylene sulfonate and/or potassium toluene phosphate in the compositions provides higher yields of hydrocarbons recovered. Larger amounts of hydrotrope result in an increase in injectate interfacial tension, but also result, as judged by decreased turbidity, in improved compatibility of the surfactant system in injectates made with water sources comprising salts.

Compositions for enhanced oil recovery

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for increasing recovery, or flowback, of hydrocarbon compounds from hydrocarbon-containing subterranean reservoirs. The flowback compositions include an anionic sulfonated surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, water, and a coupling agent. The flowback compositions convert oil-wet rocks to water-wet, yet exhibit a low tendency of composition components to sorb to the rock. The flowback compositions do not cause formation of emulsions with hydrocarbon compounds within the subterranean environment. The flowback compositions are particularly useful for increasing the yield of hydrocarbons recovered from tight shale reservoirs.

Compositions and methods for increasing recovery, or flowback, of hydrocarbon compounds from hydrocarbon-containing subterranean reservoirs. The compositions include a dialkyl dimethyl ammonium surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, and a solvent. The concentrated compositions are storage stable and easily diluted with a water source such as produced water to form injectates suitable for injecting into one or more hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean reservoirs. The injectates convert oil-wet rocks to water-wet but do not cause formation of emulsions with hydrocarbon compounds within the subterranean environment. Injection of the injectates into a reservoir results in an increase in the yield of hydrocarbons recovered, in particular from low permeability, low porosity reservoirs such as those formed by or encountered in hydraulic fracturing and/or in certain geographic locations.

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Richmond, TX, United States of America

Tzu-ping Hsu