The market is segmented in to various types, applications, substrates along with detailed geographic analysis. The IndustryARC estimates that the market Volume for oilfield surfactants in 2014 to be 598.1 KT.
The major factor that is contributing to the growth of demand for oil field surfactants is increase in discovery of new oilfields and increase in number of oil fields in operation. The advent of technologies for extraction of shale oil and gas has been a prominent phenomenon in U.S. and European nations including Germany & France. The hydraulic fracking is the most common technique involved in oil extraction from shale formations requiring oilfield surfactants in oil drilling, extraction and transportation as drilling fluid, well stimulating agent and cementing chemical. This coupled with increase in demand from emerging regions is providing the much needed impetus to the market demand.
The anionic surfactants are the dominant type accounting for more than 30% in 2014. The amphoteric surfactants are poised to exhibit the fastest growth due to their usage as corrosion inhibitor. Each of these broader categories is further sub segmented based on their chemical nature. Emulsification/de-emulsification is the dominant application of oil field surfactants in oil and gas industry. These are also used as wetting and suspending agents predominantly. The growing shale oil production, particularly in U.S is forecast to propel the demand in North America region The method of extraction from the shale oil reservoirs include fracking, horizontal drilling and multi-well pad drilling that require considerable usage of oilfield specialty chemicals such as surfactants for utilization as emulsifiers and wetting agents. The growing safety concerns and environmental protection laws have led to a growing surfactant market for corrosion inhibition and dispersant uses.
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