Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Microemulsion flowback aids for oilfield uses
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Application No.: US15931665Application Date: 2020-05-14
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Publication No.: US11066593B2Publication Date: 2021-07-20
- Inventor: John C. Hutchison
- Applicant: STEPAN COMPANY
- Applicant Address: US IL Northfield
- Assignee: STEPAN COMPANY
- Current Assignee: STEPAN COMPANY
- Current Assignee Address: US IL Northfield
- Agency: Dilworth IP, LLC
- Main IPC: C09K8/536
- IPC: C09K8/536 ; C09K8/60 ; C09K8/86

Abstract:
Flowback aid mixtures and oil-in-water microemulsions produced by combining an aqueous brine with the flowback aid mixtures are disclosed. The flowback aid mixture comprises an oil, a fatty alcohol ethoxylate, and a quaternized fatty amine ethoxylate. The amount of oil is less than or equal to 12 wt. % based on the amount of flowback aid mixture. The microemulsions have a surface tension at 25° C. less than 30 mN/m and a Z-average particle size as determined by dynamic light scattering at 25° C. of less than or equal to 10 nm. Also disclosed are processes that utilize the flowback aid mixtures. In one process, the mixture is introduced into a subterranean formation and is combined prior to or during its introduction into the formation with a formation brine, process water, or both to give the microemulsion. In one hydraulic fracturing process for recovering gas, oil, or both, a fracturing fluid and the flowback aid are co-injected into a subterranean formation to give the microemulsion.
Public/Granted literature
- US20200270510A1 MICROEMULSION FLOWBACK AIDS FOR OILFIELD USES Public/Granted day:2020-08-27
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