Recovery of hydrocarbons from subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formations

Claim 2

The process of claim 2, wherein said base is contained in the aqueous medium in concentrations in the range of from about 0.001N to 1.0N.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein said low molecular weight amine is n-butylamine.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein said low molecular weight amine is trimethylamine.

Claim 5

A process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well, which comprises injecting into said formation through said injection well an aqueous medium containing an alkali metal hydroxide and a low molecular weight amine of the formula: wherein R1, R2, and R3 are alkyl groups of from one to 12 carbon atoms or hydrogen and where the total number of carbons in the R groups is less than 13 and at least one of said R groups being alkyl and in amount in the range of from about 0.05 percent to about 1.5 percent by volume sufficient to reduce the sorptive capacity of said formation for said hydrocarbons and enhance the mobility thereof, and thereafter injecting an aqueous drive medium into said formation through said injection well and driving the same towaRd said production well.

Claim 6

The process of claim 6, wherein said alkali metal hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of the hydroxides of sodium, potassium, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 7

The process of claim 7, wherein said alkali metal hydroxide is contained in the aqueous medium in concentrations in the range of from about 0.001N to 1.0N.

Claim 8

The process of claim 6 wherein said low molecular weight amine is n-butylamine.

Claim 9

The process of claim 6 wherein said low molecular weight amine is trimethylamine.

Claim 10

The process of claim 6 wherein said aqueous drive medium is H20.

Claim 11

The process of claim 11 wherein the H20 is water, steam, and mixtures thereof, the temperatures thereof being fixed by optimum conditions of operation.

Claim 12

A process for recovering hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing sand matrix having heretofore undergone mining processing, which comprises contacting said hydrocarbon-bearing sand matrix with an aqueous medium containing an alkali metal hydroxide and a low molecular weight amine of the formula: wherein R1, R2, and R3 are alkyl groups of from one to 12 carbons or hydrogen and where the total number of carbons in the R groups is less than 13 and at least one of said R groups being alkyl, in the range of from about 0.05 percent to about 1.5 percent by volume thereby forming an emulsion of said hydrocarbons in said sand matrix and said aqueous medium, recovering the emulsion thus formed, and separating hydrocarbons from said emulsion.

Claim 13

The process of claim 13 wherein said alkali metal hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of the hydroxides of sodium, potassium, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 14

The process of claim 14, wherein said base is contained in the aqueous carrier in concentrations in the range of from about 0.001N to 1.0N.

Claim 15

The process of claim 13 wherein said low molecular weight amine is n-butylamine.

Claim 16

The process of claim 13 wherein said low molecular weight amine is trimethylamine.