According to the classification method of oilfield chemicals, surfactants for oilfield use can be categorized by application into drilling surfactants, production surfactants, enhanced oil recovery surfactants, oil and gas gathering/transportation surfactants, and water treatment surfactants.
Drilling Surfactants
Among oilfield surfactants, drilling surfactants (including drilling fluid additives and cementing additives) account for the largest consumption volume—approximately 60% of the total oilfield surfactant usage. Production surfactants, though relatively smaller in quantity, are more technologically advanced, constituting about one-third of the total. These two categories hold significant importance in oilfield surfactant applications.
In China, research focuses on two main areas: maximizing the use of traditional raw materials and developing novel synthetic polymers (including monomers). Internationally, drilling fluid additive research is more specialized, emphasizing sulfonic acid group-containing synthetic polymers as the foundation for various products—a trend likely to shape future developments. Breakthroughs have been made in viscosity reducers, fluid loss control agents, and lubricants. Notably, in recent years, polymeric alcohol surfactants with cloud point effects have been widely adopted across domestic oilfields, forming a series of polymeric alcohol drilling fluid systems. Additionally, methyl glucoside and glycerin-based drilling fluids have demonstrated promising field application results, further driving the development of drilling surfactants. Currently, China’s drilling fluid additives encompass 18 categories with over a thousand varieties, with an annual consumption nearing 300,000 tons.
Production Surfactants
Compared to drilling surfactants, production surfactants are fewer in variety and quantity, particularly those used in acidizing and fracturing. In fracturing surfactants, research on gelling agents primarily focuses on modified natural plant gums and cellulose, alongside synthetic polymers like polyacrylamide. In recent years, international progress in acidizing fluid surfactants has been slow, with R&D emphasis shifting toward corrosion inhibitors for acidizing. These inhibitors are typically developed by modifying or blending existing raw materials, with a common goal of ensuring low or non-toxicity and oil/water solubility or water dispersibility. Amine-based, quaternary ammonium, and alkyne alcohol blended inhibitors are prevalent, while aldehyde-based inhibitors have declined due to toxicity concerns. Other innovations include dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid complexes with low-molecular-weight amines (e.g., ethylamine, propylamine, C8–18 primary amines, oleic diethanolamide), and acid-in-oil emulsifiers. In China, research on surfactants for fracturing and acidizing fluids has lagged, with limited progress beyond corrosion inhibitors. Among the available products, amine-based compounds (primary, secondary, tertiary, or quaternary amides and their blends) dominate, followed by imidazoline derivatives as another major class of organic corrosion inhibitors.
Oil and Gas Gathering/Transportation Surfactants
Research and development of surfactants for oil and gas gathering/transportation in China began in the 1960s. Today, there are 14 categories with hundreds of products. Crude oil demulsifiers are the most consumed, with an annual demand of about 20,000 tons. China has developed tailored demulsifiers for different oilfields, many of which meet 1990s international standards. However, pour point depressants, flow improvers, viscosity reducers, and wax removal/prevention agents remain limited, mostly being blended products. The varying requirements of different crude oil properties for these surfactants pose challenges and higher demands for new product development.
Oilfield Water Treatment Surfactants
Water treatment chemicals are a critical category in oilfield development, with an annual consumption exceeding 60,000 tons—about 40% of which are surfactants. Despite the substantial demand, research on water treatment surfactants in China is insufficient, and the product range remains incomplete. Most products are adapted from industrial water treatment, but due to the complexity of oilfield water, their applicability is often poor, sometimes failing to deliver expected results. Internationally, flocculant development is the most active area in water treatment surfactant research, yielding numerous products, though few are specifically designed for oilfield wastewater treatment.
Post time: Aug-20-2025