US3580337A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for stabilizing the mobility of polyacrylamide solutions flowing through porous media
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
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Filing: 1969-04-14
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1989-04-14
Abstract
Abstract Oil saturations are decreased by flooding the oil-bearing subterranean formation with an aqueous solution of relatively low salt content containing a high molecular weight partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide having incorporated therein from about 1 to about 50 ppm of a divalent cation of a water-soluble salt. The divalent cation stabilizes the polyacrylamide in the aqueous solution with regard to mechanical degradation and such enables a bank of the aqueous solution to maintain its mobility while traveling through the formation.
Inventors
- 👤 William B Gogarty
- 👤 Richard W Mcatee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:23
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/588
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the molecular weight of the partially polyacrylamide is at least about 0.5 X 106.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein there is also incorporated in the solution an oxygen scavenging agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein there is incorporated in the solution a bactericide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein from about 1 to about 50 p.p.m. of the cation of the water soluble salt is incorporated into the aqueous solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of claim 1 wherein the cation of the water soluble salt is selected from Group IIA of the Periodic Table.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the cation of the salt(s) is calcium or magnesium, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the water soluble divalent salt is calcium chloride or calcium chloride dihydrate.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of maintaining substantially the mobility of an aqueous solution of deionized water containing high molecular weight, partially hydrolYzed polyacrylamide when flowing through a porous media, the method comprising incorporating into the solution sufficient amounts of water soluble salt of a divalent cation to impart stable mobility to the solution.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation having at least one injection means and at least one production means in fluid communication with the reservoir, comprising injecting through the injection means an aqueous solution of relatively low salt content containing high molecular weight, partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide having incorporated therein from about 1 to about 50 p.p.m. of the cation of a water soluble salt containing a divalent cation, displacing the aqueous solution through the formation, and recovering hydrocarbon through the production means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the molecular weight of the partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide is at least about 0.5 X 106.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10 wherein oxygen scavenging agent is incorporated into the aqueous solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 10 wherein a bactericide is incorporated into the aqueous solution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the cation is selected from Group IIA of the Periodical Table.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
150 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the cation is calcium or magnesium, or mixtures thereof. 16 The method of claim 10 wherein the water soluble salt is calcium chloride or calcium chloride dihydrate. 17. A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation having at least one injection means and at least one production means in fluid communication with the formation, the method comprising in combination: a. injecting from about 1 to about 20 formation pore volume of a displacing agent; b. injecting from about 20 to about 80 formation pore volume of an aqueous solution relatively low salt content containing high molecular weight, partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide and from about 1 to about 50 p.p.m. of the cation of a water soluble salt containing a divalent cation; and thereafter, c. displacing the displacing agent and aqueous solution through the reservoir and recovering and recovering hydrocarbon through the production means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the displacing agent is a micellar dispersion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the micellar dispersion is comprised of aqueous medium, hydrocarbon, and surfactant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the micellar dispersion contains cosurfactant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the molecular weight of the partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide is at least about 0.5 X 106.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17 wherein oxygen scavenging agent is incorporated into the aqueous solution.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 17 wherein bactericide is incorporated into the aqueous solution.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the water soluble salt(s) is selected from Group IIA of the Periodic Table.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the cation(s) of the salt(s) is calcium or magnesium, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
157 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the water soluble salt is calcium chloride or calcium chloride dihydrate. 27. A method for recovering hydrocarbon from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation having at least one injection means in fluid communication with at least one production means, the method comprising in sequence: a. injecting into the formation from about 1 to about 20 percent formation pore volume of a micellar dispersion comprising aqueous medium, hydrocarbon, surfactant, and cosurfactant; b. injecting from about 20 to about 80 formation pore volume of an aqueous solution of relatively low salt content containing partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide having an average molecular weight of at least about 0.5 X 106 and from about 1 to About 50 p.p.m. of the cation of a water soluble salt containing divalent cation, and thereafter, c. injecting sufficient drive water to displace the micellar dispersion and aqueous solution through the formation and recovering hydrocarbon through the at least one production means.
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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) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |