Surfactant assisted oil recovery using alcohol ether sulfonates and cationic surfactants
A composition comprising an alcohol ether sulfonate and a quaternary ammonium salt is provided for use in methods of increasing recovery of crude oil from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation.
1. A composition for increasing recovery of crude oil from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation, the composition comprising:
an alcohol ether sulfonate having formula I:
wherein:
R 1 is alkyl;
R 2 is alkylene;
R 3 and R 4 are each independently ethylene or propylene;
R 5 is hydroxyl and R 6 is —SO 3 M, or R 5 is —SO 3 M and R 6 is hydroxyl;
M is independently an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, hydronium, NH 3 or NH 2 ; and
a and b are each independently an integer from 0 to 30, and a+b equals 1 to 60; and
a quaternary ammonium salt having the formula II:
wherein:
R 10 and R 11 are independently C 8 to C 30 alkyl;
R 12 and R 13 are independently lower alkyl; and
X − is an anion;
the weight ratio of the alcohol ether sulfonate to quaternary ammonium salt ranging from about 40:1 to about 1:1.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the alcohol ether sulfonate has the formula III
wherein:
R 3 is isopropylene and R 4 is ethylene, or R 3 is ethylene and R 4 is isopropylene;
R 5 is hydroxyl and R 6 is —SO 3 M, or R 5 is —SO 3 M and R 6 is hydroxyl;
M is independently Na, K, Ca, Mg, hydronium, NH 3 or NH 2 ;
x and y are each independently an integer from 0 to 27, and x+y equals 5 to 27; and
a and b are each independently an integer from 0 to 30, and a+b equals 1 to 60.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein R 3 is isopropylene and R 4 is ethylene.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein R 5 is hydroxyl and R 6 is —SO 3 M.
5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein R 5 is —SO 3 M and R 6 is hydroxyl.
6. The composition of claim 2 , wherein the alcohol ether sulfonate has the formula III, x and y are each independently an integer from 0 to 15, and x+y equals 5 to 15.
7. The composition of claim 2 , wherein a is 2 to 25, b is 2 to 25, and a+b equals 4 to 50.
8. The composition of claim 2 , wherein a is 3 to 20, b is 6 to 20, and a+b equals 9 to 40.
9. The composition of claim 2 , wherein a is 5 to 18, b is 10 to 12, and a+b equals 15 to 30.
10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein R 10 and R 11 are independently C 8 to C 18 alkyl.
11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein R 12 and R 13 are independently methyl or ethyl.
12. The composition of claim 1 , wherein X − is a halide, a sulfate, a nitrate, a nitrite, a carbonate, or a carboxylate.
13. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the alcohol ether sulfonate to quaternary ammonium salt ranging from about 20:1 to about 1:1.
14. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a carrier which comprises water, an alcohol, an ether, a glycol, or a combination thereof.
15. The composition of claim 2 , wherein R 3 is isopropylene and R 4 is ethylene.
16. The composition of claim 15 , wherein the alcohol ether sulfonate has the formula III, x and y are each independently an integer from 0 to 15, and x+y equals 5 to 15.
17. The composition of claim 16 , wherein a is 2 to 25, b is 2 to 25, and a+b equals 4 to 50.
18. The composition of claim 17 , wherein a is 3 to 20, b is 6 to 20, and a+b equals 9 to 40.
19. The composition of claim 18 , wherein a is 5 to 18, b is 10 to 12, and a+b equals 15 to 30.
20. The composition of claim 17 , wherein:
R 10 and R 11 are independently C 8 to C 18 alkyl; or
R 12 and R 13 are independently methyl or ethyl; or
X − is a halide, a sulfate, a nitrate, a nitrite, a carbonate, or a carboxylate; or
the weight ratio of the alcohol ether sulfonate to quaternary ammonium salt ranging from about 20:1 to about 1:1.