Patent ID: 8022014

Claim:
A method of treating a subterranean region, the method comprising: providing a eutectic solvent; and introducing the eutectic solvent into the subterranean region, wherein providing a eutectic solvent comprises reacting an ammonium compound with a second compound selected from the group consisting of amines, amides, carboxylic acids, alcohols, metal halides, and combinations thereof, wherein the ammonium compound is a quaternary ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of compounds having the structures: R 1 R 2 R 3 —NR 4 Cl and ClR 1 R 2 R 3 —NR 4 Cl, and wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are each selected from the group consisting of octadecyl-, methoxy-, and ethoxy-groups.