US3613786A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Oil recovery method using high water content oil-external micellar dispersions
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
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Filing: 1970-03-23
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Granted: 1971-10-19
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Expires: 1990-03-23
Abstract
Abstract Crude oil within a subterranean formation is recovered by injecting into the formation a novel high water content oilexternal micellar dispersion (containing 55 to about 90 percent water) and moving the micellar dispersion through the formation to displace crude oil. The micellar dispersion contains a surfactant having an average equivalent weight of about 350 to about 525.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley C Jones
- 👤 Wayne O Roszelle
- 👤 Marvin A Svaldi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:25
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/584
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
9 words
injecting a mobility buffer into the subterranean formation, and
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion is comprised of hydrocarbon, water, and petroleum sulfonate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
injecting into the formation about 5 to about 75 percent formation pore volume of a mobility buffer and, 3 injecting sufficient water drive into the formation to displace the micellar dispersion and mobility buffer toward the production means and recovering crude oil through the production means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the micellar dispersion contains cosurfactant and/or electrolyte.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
injecting sufficient water drive into the subterranean formation to displace the micellar dispersion and mobility buffer toward the production means and recovering crude oil through the production means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein about 1 to about 20 percent formation pore volume of the micellar dispersion is injected into the formation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion contains at least about 4 percent surfactant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein a mobility buffer is injected into the formation after the micellar dispersion is injected therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the mobility buffer has a mobility about equal to or less than about the mobility of the micellar dispersion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 6 wherein a water drive is injected into the subterranean formation after the mobility buffer to displace the micellar dispersion and mobility buffer toward the production means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion has a mobility about equal to or less than about the mobility of the formation fluids flowing ahead of the micellar dispersion within the subterranean formation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process of recovering crude oil from an oil-bearing subterranean formation having at least one injection means in fluid communication with at least one production means, comprising:
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 10 wherein about 1 to about 20 percent formation pore volume of the micellar dispersion is injected into the subterranean formation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 11 wherein about 2 to about 10 percent formation pore volume of the micellar dispersion is injected into the subterranean formation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the micellar dispersion has a mobility about equal to or less than about the Mobility of the formation fluids flowing ahead of the micellar dispersion within the subterranean formation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 10 wherein about 5 to about 75 percent formation pore volume of the mobility buffer is injected into the subterranean formation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the mobility buffer has a mobility about equal to or less than the mobility of the back portion of the micellar dispersion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 10 wherein about 5 to 100 percent of the mobility buffer is characterized as having graded mobilities increasing from front to rear from about the mobility of the micellar dispersion to about the mobility of the water drive.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the mobility buffer is characterized as having an average mobility between about the mobility of the micellar dispersion and about the mobility of the water drive.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process of recovering crude oil from an oil-bearing subterranean formation having at least one injection means in fluid communication with at least one production means, comprising:
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 18 wherein the mobility of the micellar dispersion is about equal to or less than about the mobility of the formation fluids within the subterranean formation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 18 wherein about 5 to about 100 percent of the mobility buffer is characterized as having mobilities increasing from a low of about the mobility of the micellar dispersion to a high of about the mobility of the water drive.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 18 wherein the front portion of the mobility buffer has a mobility about equal to or less than the mobility of the back portion of the micellar dispersion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 18 wherein the cosurfactant is an alcohol.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3497006A
Cited
US3493048A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-18 | 1975-04-19 | 1975-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-18 | 1979-04-19 | 1979-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-18 | 1983-04-19 | 1983-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |