Compounds and method for enhanced oil recovery using sulfur surfactants
A method of enhanced oil recovery wherein: (a) a flooding composition is delivered into a subterranean reservoir; (b) the flooding composition includes a sulfur surfactant; and (c) the fluid produced from the subterranean reservoir can also be analyzed to determine if the surfactant is present in the fluid. The surfactant preferably includes a sulfonate moiety or other sulfur-containing moiety. The presence of the surfactant in the fluid produced from the subterranean reservoir is preferably determined by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, HPLC-AES, or HPLC-ICP.
1. A compound of formula:
wherein n+m is a integer from 1 to 12.
2. A method of enhanced oil recovery from a subterranean reservoir, the method comprising:
delivering a flooding composition into said subterranean reservoir, said flooding composition including a surfactant comprising at least one sulfonate moiety or other sulfur-containing moiety, or a combination thereof,
wherein said surfactant comprises one or more compounds having a formula:
wherein n+m is a integer from 1 to 12.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises analyzing a fluid produced from said subterranean reservoir to determine if said surfactant is present in said fluid.