Patent ID: 7691260
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: C09K,C10G

Abstract:
1. A method of recovering oil/bitumen from surface or sub-surface fossil-based material sources, or contaminations, the method comprising: (a) contacting the surface or sub-surface fossil-based material source or contamination with an aqueous fluid containing a continuous composition spectrum multifunctional polymeric surfactant mixture comprising at least a polymer surfactant and a thickener polymer, said surfactant mixture having a molecular weight greater than its entanglement molecular weight to provide a fluid mixture comprising petroleum hydrocarbons, wherein the polymer surfactant comprises a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, the hydrophobic part comprising at least one non-aliphatic, non-aromatic functionality that imparts a dipole moment greater than 0 Debye to the hydrophobic part; and (b) separating an oil phase comprising petroleum hydrocarbons from the fluid mixture or allowing an oil phase comprising petroleum hydrocarbons to separate from the fluid mixture.