There are many applications of surfactants in the petroleum industry, the commonly used additives in the oil field are emulsifier OP series, pan series of pan 20 pan 80, Twain 80, additives 1810, polyether.

The crude oil produced from the well is a W-O emulsion, which must be demulsified before refining. High voltage electrostatic field method and chemical demulsification method are mainly used in crude oil demulsification. The most effective method of chemical demulsification dehydration is non-ionic surfactant demulsification, mainly used: octylphenol polyoxyethylene ether, fatty acid polyoxyethylene ester, polyether, etc.

Non-ionic surfactants are used in oil displacement agent, sand fixing agent, water blocking agent, demulsifier, drag reducing agent, corrosion inhibitor, clay stabilizer, water treatment agent and acidizing and fracturing fluid. The surfactants commonly used in oil recovery are polyether, fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether sulfate and so on.

In the production of petroleum products, in order to improve and improve the performance of petroleum products must also add a variety of additives, according to its role can be divided into: anti-wear agent, cleaning agent, dispersant, viscosity regulator, point reducing agent, rust inhibitor, fuel energy saving agent and so on, most of the additives are non-ionic surfactants.

For example: fuel oil and lubricating oil used in point reduction agent can use fatty amine polyoxyethylene ether. The surfactants used in rust prevention agent are sorbitol monooleate and trioleate, polyethylene glycol dioleate and so on. Water micro-emulsification or soluble in natural oil can play a significant energy saving effect, for this can be used pan, twain, etc.