US3603397A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intrinsic mobility control in petroleum recovery
Assignee: WR Grace and Co
•
Filing: 1969-05-14
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1989-05-14
Abstract
Abstract An improvement in the process of polymer flooding for the secondary recovery of crude oil or sometimes gas in which the polymer is formed underground from injected monomer and a polymer flood whose mobility shows a downward gradient towards the extraction well is provided. Agents for control of intrinsic mobility other than polymers may be formed; the creation of a mobility control agent capable of further change can be used for purposes other than flooding, such as plugging connate water or gas.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Marie Peray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:06
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/20; C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/588
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of recovering a petroleum fluid from a permeable geological formation comprising: a. introducing into the formation an aqueous solution containing a polymerizable compound which has been treated with an antipoisoning agent, b. effecting polymerization over a prolonged period of time thereby providing in the geological formation a composition having a mobility which decreases in the direction of extractive flow towards an extraction well, and c. extracting petroleum fluid through the extraction well whilst simultaneous extraction of an undesired fluid is inhibited by the thickened composition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of recovering a petroleum fluid from a permeable geological formation comprising: a. introducing into the formation an aqueous solution containing a polymerizable compound which has been treated with an antipoisoning agent, b. effecting polymerization over a prolonged period of time thereby providing in the geological formation a composition having a mobility which decreases in the direction of extractive flow towards an extraction well, and c. extracting petroleum fluid through the extraction well whilst simultaneous extraction of an undesired fluid is inhibited by the thickened composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said antipoisoning agent is ammonia, said aqueous solution of the polymerizable compound being ammoniated prior to introduction into the formation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 in which ammonia is added to the aqueous solution in sufficient quantity to create in the aqueous solution a pH of 8.5.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said antipoisoning agent is elemental mercury, said aqueous solution of the polymerizable compound being treated with elemental mercury prior to introduction into the formation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said polymerizable compound is a mixture of an acrylamide and an ethylenically unsaturated acid, preferably an acrylic acid, copolymerizable with the acrylamide to form a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said aqueous solution contains a phenolic ester chain stopping agent.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of recovering a petroleum fluid from a permeable geological formation comprising: a. introducing into the formation an aqueous solution containing a polymerizable compound into which a minor portion of the polymerizable compound is partially polymerized and the resultant prepolymer of low molecular weight is included as seed in the solution of polymerizable material, b. effecting polymerization over a prolonged period of time thereby providing in the geological formation a composition having a mobility which decreases in the direction of extractive flow towards an extraction well, and c. extracting petroleum fluid through the extraction well whilst simultaneous extraction of an undesired fluid is inhibited by the thickened coMposition.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of recovering a petroleum fluid from a permeable geological formation comprising: a. introducing into the formation an aqueous solution containing a polymerizable compound into which a minor portion of the polymerizable compound is partially polymerized and the resultant prepolymer of low molecular weight is included as seed in the solution of polymerizable material, b. effecting polymerization over a prolonged period of time thereby providing in the geological formation a composition having a mobility which decreases in the direction of extractive flow towards an extraction well, and c. extracting petroleum fluid through the extraction well whilst simultaneous extraction of an undesired fluid is inhibited by the thickened coMposition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 in which the polymerizable compound is a mixture of an acrylamide and an unsaturated acid copolymerizable with the acrylamide to provide a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 in which the acid is an acrylic acid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 in which the acrylamide is introduced in the form of an acrylamide-forming material selected from salts and acrylonitrile.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 in which a polymerization catalyst is introduced into the geological formation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 in which an aqueous solution containing both the polymerizable compound and the polymerization catalyst is introduced into the geological formation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 in which the polymerization product develops a molecular weight not exceeding 25 million, preferably not exceeding 15 million.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said aqueous solution contains a phenolic ester chain stopping agent.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of recovering a petroleum fluid from a permeable geological formation comprising: a. introducing into the formation an aqueous solution containing at least one component of a redox polymerization catalyst, b. introducing into the formation an aqueous solution of a polymerizable material and any remaining component of said redox catalyst, c. effecting polymerization of said polymerizable material over a prolonged period of time, thereby providing in a geological formation a composition of substantially decreased mobility, and d. extracting the petroleum fluid through the extraction well whilst simultaneous extraction of an undersired fluid is inhibited by the thickened composition.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of recovering a petroleum fluid from a permeable geological formation comprising: a. introducing into the formation an aqueous solution containing at least one component of a redox polymerization catalyst, b. introducing into the formation an aqueous solution of a polymerizable material and any remaining component of said redox catalyst, c. effecting polymerization of said polymerizable material over a prolonged period of time, thereby providing in a geological formation a composition of substantially decreased mobility, and d. extracting the petroleum fluid through the extraction well whilst simultaneous extraction of an undersired fluid is inhibited by the thickened composition.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the total redox catalyst is introduced into the formation prior to the introduction of said polymerizable material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein said polymerizable compound is a mixture of an acrylamide and an ethylenically unsaturated acid, preferably an acrylic acid.
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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) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |