US3658130A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mobility control in a miscible-type crude oil recover process
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
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Filing: 1970-08-19
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Granted: 1972-04-25
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Expires: 1990-08-19
Abstract
Abstract Improved oil recovery is obtained wherein highly saline water is used in an aqueous mobility buffer by incorporating about 0.05 percent to about 10 percent by weight of a water soluble surfactant in at least the front portion of the buffer, the portion of the mobility buffer equal to at least about 25 percent of the volume of a previously injected micellar dispersion. The mobility buffer is useful in secondary and tertiary oil recovery processes to displace a micellar dispersion through an oilbearing subterranean formation toward a production means to recover oil therefrom. The mobility buffer has a sufficiently low mobility to protect against fingering in the process.
Inventors
- 👤 John A Davis Jr
- 👤 William J Kunzman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:00
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion is comprised of hydrocarbon, surfactant, and water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the micellar dispersion contains cosurfactant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the micellar dispersion contains electrolyte.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein from about 0.05 percent to about 10 percent of water-soluble surfactant is incorporated into the front volume of the mobility buffer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the mobility buffer contains up to 100,000 ppm of salt dissolved in the water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the front volume of the mobility buffer has a mobility about equal to or less than that of the formation fluids flowing ahead of the micellar solution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the front volume of the mobility buffer has a mobility about equal to or less than that of the micellar dispersion flowing in the formation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the front volume of the mobility buffer containing the surfactant is equal to about 50 percent to about 100 percent of the volume of the micellar dispersion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
In an improved process of flooding an oil-bearing subterranean formation wherein a volume of a micellar dispersion comprised of surfactant, water and hydrocarbon is injected into the formation and displaced toward a production means by an aqueous mobility buffer and a water drive to recover crude oil through said production means, the improved process step comprising incorporating from about 0.05 percent to about 10 percent of a water-soluble surfactant into the front volume of the mobility buffer, the front volume equal to at least about 50 percent of the volume of injected micellar dispersion, to permit the use of highly saline water in the mobility buffer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 10 wherein from about 0.2 percent to about 5 percent of surfactant is incorporated into the front volume of the mobility buffer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the surfactant in the front volume of the mobility buffer is a condensate of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic condensate of propylene oxide and propylene glycol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the surfactant in the front volume of the mobility buffer is an alkyl phenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanol containing at least one alkyl grouping.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the surfactant in the front volume of the mobility buffer is nonionic.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the surfactant in the front volume of the mobility buffer is anionic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the mobility of the front volume of the mobility buffer is about equal to or less than that of the micellar dispersion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the front volume of the mobility buffer containing the surfactant is equal to about 50 to about 100 percent of the volume of the micellar dispersion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-25 | 1975-10-25 | 1976-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-25 | 1979-10-25 | 1980-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-25 | 1983-10-25 | 1984-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |