A novel counterion-coupled gemini (cocogem) surfactant, DBSJ, was synthetized via the 2:1 coupling reaction between 4-(2-dodecyl)benzenesulfonic acid (Lutensit A-LBS) and polypropyleneglycol-bis(2-aminopropyl) ether (Jeffamine D230). The surfactant had a polydispersity index of Mw/Mn = 1.04, as determined by electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry. The micellar properties of DBSJ in water were investigated in the temperature range 283-348 K by conductometry and titration microcalorimetry. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) of the cocogem was found to be more than 1 order of magnitude less than that of monomeric sodium 4-(2-dodecyl)benzenesulfonate (SDBS). The mean degree of dissociation in the temperature range studied proved to be alpha = 0.39. The calorimetric enthalpies of micelle formation agreed well with the enthalpies calculated via the van't Hoff relation. The cmc versus T curve passes through a minimum just below room temperature, after which the micelle formation changes from endothermic to exothermic. The Gibbs free energy of micelle formation was nearly constant as the temperature was increased, due to enthalpy/entropy compensation. The isotherm for DBSJ adsorption from aqueous solution onto sandstone was determined by continuous flow frontal analysis solid/liquid chromatography at 298 K and 60 bar. The adsorption of DBSJ on sandstone followed an S-type isotherm. Surface aggregation occurred over an extended range of concentration. Surface saturation was reached at a solution concentration more than 1 order of magnitude less than for monomeric SDBS. This finding is a point of concern in the chemical flooding of oil reservoir rocks to enhance oil recovery.

Keywords:Dry reforming of CH4 Co/Al2O3 catalyst XPS of Co/Al2O3 Surface carbon a b s t r a c t The reforming of methane with carbon dioxide has been investigated at 773 K on 10% Co/Al 2 O 3 reduced at different temperatures up to 1173 K. The catalysts were characterized by BET, TPR, XRD and XPS methods. TPR and XPS results revealed that during the pre-treatment of the catalysts the Co only partially reduced. The reduction degree and the amount of the structured metallic cobalt increased with the reduction temperature. The conversion of the reactants was the highest on the sample reduced at 973 K, but the turnover frequencies of CO and H 2 formation increased as the reduction temperature increased.The amount of surface carbon significantly depended on the pre-treatment temperature of the catalysts. The IR spectra registered at the beginning of the reaction indicate that tilted CO was formed, but the position of the absorption bands depends on the reduction temperature of the catalysts. Similarly, the pre-treatment temperature influenced the type of the surface carbon determined by XPS. We assume that the different structures of the metallic Co formed in pretreatment resulted in the different catalytic behaviors.

Here we present a novel instrument for on-line, automatic measurement of benzene and toluene concentration in gas and liquid samples produced in the natural gas industry. Operation of the instrument is based on the collection of analytes on an adsorbent, separation using a chromatographic column and detection by near-infrared diode laser-based photoacoustic spectroscopy. Sample handling, measurement and data evaluation are carried out fully automatically, using an integrated, programmable electronic unit. The instrument was calibrated in the laboratory for natural gas, nitrogen and liquid glycol samples, and tested under field conditions at a natural gas dehydration unit of the MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Company. Minimum detectable concentrations (3σm−1) were found to be 2.5 µg l−1 for benzene and 4 µg l−1 for toluene in gas samples, while 1.5 mg l−1 for benzene and 3 mg l−1 for toluene in liquid samples, which is suitable for measuring benzene and toluene concentration in natural gas and glycol samples occurring at natural gas dehydration plants.

The main objective of the laboratory and field studies was to develop an efficient and flexible reservoir conformance control (RCC) technology through improvement of the standard silicate method with joint application of "liquid” polymer and nanoparticle (silica) suspension. Similarly, the important idea was to simplify the surface facilities and reduce cost of chemicals, treatment time, and human force. The laboratory studies focused on laser particle sizing, dissolution kinetics, colloid chemical, rheological, gelation kinetics and setting time, and flow properties of polymer and nanosilica containing silicate gel methods in porous media (sandstone). Based on the experimental findings, it was found that “liquid” polymers and “liquid” nanosilica readily and rapidly dissolve and mix in water, and the solutions are free of microgels and the mechanical entrapment was minimal even in low permeable sandstone cores. In addition, they decreased significantly the surface tension and interfacial tension. It was proved that such “liquid” additives provide unprecedented flexibility to the technology and the enhanced methods may be attained with labor and expenditure effective way. The main effect of polymer was to stabilize the silicate gel against syneresis (spontaneous fracturing) and formed a secondary network in gel and that fact provided more thermal stability of gel. The nanosilica beneficially influenced the gelation kinetics of polymer containing silicate solutions. The main effect could be traced back to advanced nucleation of gel formation. Additional positive effect of nanoparticles is that its presence in the reaction mixture makes more flexible the pH control in both the bulk phase and in porous media. The extra beneficial properties of “liquid” polymers and nanomaterials in all oilfield chemical applications may significantly contribute to improvement of standard technologies; meanwhile the surface facilities can be simplified, or completely eliminated (e.g. the “liquid” polymer and nanosilica can be directly injected to basics sodium silicate solution at wellhead). Earlier, the “liquid” polymer was successfully applied in water shutoff in Oman. Recently, a new field programs is running in Hungary using silicate/polymer solution with nanoparticle (silica) fillers. The paper details the “from laboratory to field” activities, and demonstrates the superiority of the novel concept. The successful field pilots, the join application “liquid” polymers, and nanosilica may open new vistas in reservoir conformance control.