Brine-tolerant compositions comprising fatty acid or fatty ester reaction products of saccharide polymers

Abstract

Surfactant compositions comprising a reaction product of a saccharide polymer and a fatty acid or a fatty ester may be obtained in an aqueous fluid in the presence of a hydroxide base and a neutral surfactant or a reaction product form thereof, the saccharide polymer comprising a dextran, a dextrin compound, or any combination thereof. One or more zwitterionic surfactants may be combined with the surfactant composition in a ratio sufficient to render the resulting combined surfactant composition brine-tolerant, even when both the reaction product and one or more of the zwitterionic surfactant(s) are brine-intolerant. The one or more zwitterionic surfactants may be further selected to render the combined surfactant composition non-emulsifying toward oleaginous fluids.