Marketing and economics of oleochemicals to the oil patch

Oleomines represent the largest class of oleochemicals used in the oil patch and are used in virtually all phases of the oil industry. Although the largest volume is used in production and refining, many amines are used prior to production in drilling operations and well completions, as well as postprocessing as additives in finished products. Other oleochemicals widely used include various surfactants made by ethoxylation and sulfation of fatty acids as well as polymerized fatty acids. The amines of interest start with simple primary amines and include secondary, tertiary and quaternary amines. They extend into higher amines such as diamines, triamines and beyond as well as all of these further reacted with other chemical species. Oleoamines in a generic sense also include amino amides, amphoteric amines, cyclic amidines, ether amines, as well as some high molecular weight polymeric materials. The oleoamines are used per se in suitable solvent systems, or as components in a wide variety of finished products containing several chemical entities to obtain specified product properties. Oleoamines, their derivatives, and other oleochemicals are used to prevent corrosion, inhibit and kill bacteria, condition waters for improved injectivity, emulsify, deemulsify, foam, gel, remove deposits, disperse solids, wet solids, solubilize or disperse otherwise incompatible liquids, produce or stabilize foaming systems, lubricate and produce detergent properties in liquid systems. They are used in drilling fluids. well completion fluids, oil and gas wells, water source wells, injection wells, gathering systems, filters, storage tanks, pipelines, refineries, and in finished products for all of the purposes listed above. This paper covers the oil patch operating parameters that determine the need for using oleochemicals, and describes for each system appropriate oleochemicals whose properties satisfy those needs.