Sulfosuccinate surfactant compositions and methods using the same

1. An oil recovery surfactant system comprising:

a mixture of:

(a) one or more of a first diester sulfosuccinate surfactant compound according to formula (I):

R 1 —O—CO—CHX—CHY—CO—O—R 2   (I)

wherein:

R 1 and R 2 are linear or branched alkyl groups, each independently having from eight to thirteen carbon atoms,

X is —H or —SO 3 − M + , and

Y is —H or —SO 3 − M + ,

when X is —H, then Y is —SO 3 − M + and when Y is —H, then X is —SO 3 − M + , where M + is H + , Na + , Ca + , Mg + , K + , NH 4 + , NR 4 + , where R is H, methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl; and

(b) one or more of a first monoester sulfosuccinate surfactant compound according to formula (III):

B +− O—CO—CHX—CHY—CO—O(CH2-CH2-O) z —R 5   (III)

wherein:

B + is Na + , K + , Ca + , Mg + , NH 4 + , or NR 4 + , where R is H, methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl,

X is as defined for formula (I),

Y is as defined for formula (I), and

Z is 0-30, and

R 5 is a linear or branched alkyl group having from eight to twenty carbon atoms (C8-C20),

wherein the first diester sulfosuccinate surfactant compound is present in the surfactant system in a weight % ratio from 45 wt. % to 80 wt. % based on the total weight of the surfactant system, and the first monoester sulfosuccinate surfactant compound is present in the surfactant system in a weight % ratio from 20 wt. % to 55 wt. % based on the total weight of the surfactant system.

2. The oil recovery surfactant system according to claim 1 , wherein the first diester sulfosuccinate surfactant compound is sodium bistridecyl sulfosuccinate or sodium di(2-ethyl hexyl) sulfosuccinate.

3. The oil recovery surfactant system according to claim 1 , wherein B + is Na + .

4. The oil recovery surfactant system according to claim 3 , wherein the first monoester sulfosuccinate surfactant compound is:

(a) disodium salt of poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), α-(3-carboxy-1-oxosulfopropyl)-ω-hydroxy-C10-C16-alkyl ethers;

(b) disodium salts of butanedioic acid, 2-sulfo-,C9-11 isoalkyl esters, C10-rich; disodium salts of poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), α-(3-carboxy-1-oxosulfopropyl)-ω-hydroxy-C12-14-alkyl ethers; and disodium salts of poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), α-(3-carboxy-1-oxosulfopropyl)-ω-hydroxy-C10-12-alkyl ethers; or

(c) sodium salt of poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), α-(3-carboxy-1-oxosulfopropyl)-ω-(isotridecyloxy).

5. The oil recovery surfactant system according to claim 1 , further comprising a second diester sulfosuccinate surfactant compound according to formula (II):

R 3 —O—CO—CHX—CHY—CO—O—R 4   (II)

wherein:

R 3 and R 4 are linear or branched alkyl groups, each independently having from four to seven carbon atoms,

X is as defined according to formula (I), and

Y is as defined according to formula (I).

6. The oil recovery surfactant system according to claim 5 , wherein the first diester sulfosuccinate surfactant compound is present in the surfactant system in a weight % ratio from 50 wt. % to 65 wt. % based on the total weight of the surfactant system, the second diester sulfosuccinate surfactant compound is present in the surfactant system in a weight % ratio from 20 wt. % to 30 wt. % based on the total weight of the surfactant system, and the first monoester sulfosuccinate surfactant compound is present in the surfactant system in a weight % ratio from 10 wt. % to 20 wt. % based on the total weight of the surfactant system.

7. The oil recovery surfactant system according to claim 5 , wherein the second diester sulfosuccinate surfactant compound according to formula (II) is a salt of di(n-butyl) sulfosuccinate, di(t-butyl) sulfosuccinate, di(1-methylpropyl) sulfosuccinate, di(n-pentyl) sulfosuccinate, di(1-methylbutyl) sulfosuccinate, di(2-methylbutyl) sulfosuccinate, di(isoamyl) sulfosuccinate, di(2,2-dimethylpropyl)) sulfosuccinate, di(n-hexyl) sulfosuccinate, di(2-ethylbutyl) sulfosuccinate, di(cyclohexyl) sulfosuccinate, di(3-methylpentyl) sulfosuccinate, di(1-methylpentyl) sulfosuccinate, di(n-heptyl) sulfosuccinate, di(5-methylhexyl) sulfosuccinate, di(1-methylhexyl) sulfosuccinate, di(2-ethylpentyl) sulfosuccinate, di (1,3-dimethylbutyl)sulfosuccinate, diamyl sulfosuccinate, diisobutyl sulfosuccinate, or a combination thereof.

8. The oil recovery surfactant system according to claim 7 , wherein the second diester sulfosuccinate surfactant compound according to formula (II) is sodium di (1,3-dimethylbutyl) sulfosuccinate, sodium diamyl sulfosuccinate, sodium diisobutyl sulfosuccinate or a combination thereof.

9. A method of using the oil recovery surfactant system according to claim 1 in recovery of oil from a subterranean formation, the method comprising:

combining an effective amount of the oil recovery surfactant system according to claim 1 with a brine to form a solution;

injecting an effective amount of the solution into a subterranean formation; and

increasing a pressure in the subterranean formation, thereby enabling the recovery of oil from the subterranean formation.