US3561530A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil recovery method using micellar solutions
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
•
Filing: 1969-08-04
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Granted: 1971-02-09
•
Expires: 1989-08-04
Abstract
Abstract Hydrocarbon from a subterranean formation having an injection means in fluid communication with a production means is recovered by injecting and displacing through the formation a micellar solution having a mole ratio of aqueous medium to surfactant substantially at equilibrium with the formation water, the relationship taught by the curve in the attached FIGURE. The micellar solution contains aqueous medium, hydrocarbon and surfactant and optionally cosurfactant (e.g. alcohol) and electrolyte. Compatibility between the formation fluids and injected micellar solution is obtained by determining the salinity of the formation water and selecting the desired mole ratio of aqueous medium to surfactant as illustrated in the FIGURE to be used in the micellar solution.
Inventors
- 👤 William C Tosch
- 👤 Stanley C Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:04
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/584
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar solution contains cosurfactant and/or electrolyte.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the cosurfactant is alcohol containing an average of from about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is petroleum sulfonate having an average equivalent weight within the range of from about 350 to about 525.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the mole ratio of aqueous medium to surfactant is chosen so that the viscosity of the micellar solution will impart a mobility ratio of formation fluids to micellar solution of approximately unity or greater than unity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar solution is displaced through the formation by drive fluid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 6 wherein a mobility buffer is injected into the formation prior to the drive fluid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the mobility buffer is characterized as having graded mobilities in at least a portion thereof ranging from front to rear of from about equal to or less than that of the micellar solution to about equal to or less than that of the drive fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
144 words
A process of designing a micellar solution comprised of hydrocarbon, aqueous medium, surfactant and optionally cosurfactant and/or electrolyte compatible with and useful in the recovery of hydrocarbon from a subterranean formation in fluid communication with at least one producing means and at least one injecting means and containing formation water of known salinity, comprising: a. determining the desired viscosity that the micellar solution should have for favorable mobility control to fluid flow within the formation; b. selecting a mole ratio of aqueous medium to a particular surfactant by means of an equilibrium relationship of the kind depicted in the FIGURE between salinity of the formation water and said ratio so that the resulting micellar solution is at equilibrium with the formation water and also has the desired viscosity; and c. displacing the micellar solution through the formation and recovering hydrocarbon through the production means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the surfactant is petroleum sulfonate having an average equivalent weight within the range of from about 350 to about 525.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the cosurfactant is alcohol containing an average of from about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the mole ratio of aqueous medium to surfactant is chosen so that the viscosity of the micellar solution will determine a mobility ration of displaced formation fluids to micellar solution of approximately unity or about greater than unity.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-08 | 1974-08-10 | 1975-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-08 | 1978-08-10 | 1979-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-08 | 1982-08-10 | 1983-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |