Patent US3664419A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3664419A
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Oil recovery method using crude oil base soluble oil compositions
Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
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Filing: 1970-07-22
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1990-07-22
Abstract
Abstract Improved crude oil base soluble oils are prepared from crude oils exhibiting gravities between about 27* and 50* API and pour points below about 55* F. These soluble oil compositions contain about 45 to 90 volume percent of the selected crude oil, 4 to 30 volume percent surface active agents, 0.5 to 8 volume percent of a partially oxygenated liquid organic stabilizing agent, and up to about 60 volume percent water. Both the substantially anhydrous soluble oil containing only incidental water and the high water content microemulsions formed by the addition of from about 10 to 60 volume percent water to the soluble oil can be employed as miscible flooding agents for oil recovery and as water injection and producing oil well treating agents.
Inventors
- 👤 Leroy W Holm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:06
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said soluble oil is comprised of (1) about 45 to 90* volume percent of said crude oil; (2) about 4 to 30 volume percent surface active agent; and (3) about 0.5 to 8 volume percent partially oxygenated organic stabilizing agent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein said soluble oil contains water in an amount less than about 10 volume percent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein said soluble oil contains from about 10 to 60 volume percent water present in the form of a water-in-oil microemulsion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said soluble oil is injected in an amount equivalent to 0.01 to 0.15 pore volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said surface active agent is an admixture of a preferentially oil-soluble organic sulfonate and a preferentially water-soluble organic sulfonate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said partially oxygenated organic stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of isopropyl and secondary butyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone, glycol monoethyl ether, glycol monobutyl ether, and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein at least an initial portion of said aqueous flooding medium is increased in viscosity by the addition of a thickening agent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
135 words
In the method of recovering oil from a subterranean reservoir wherein an aqueous liquid is injected through an injection well and oil is recovered from a spaced production well and wherein the injection of said aqueous liquid is restricted by the presence of oil in the reservoir adjacent to the injection well, the improvement which comprises introducing into said injection well in an amount not greater than about 3 barrels per foot of vertical thickness of said reservoir a soluble oil comprised of an admixture of (1) about 45 to 90 volume percent crude oil exhibiting a gravity between about 27* and 50* API and a pour point below about 55* F.; (2) about 4 to 30 volume percent Surface active agent; and (3) about 0.5 to 8 volume percent partially oxygenated organic stabilizing agent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined in claim 9 wherein said soluble oil is substantially anhydrous and contains water in an amount less than about 10 volume percent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein a series of successive quantities of said substantially anhydrous soluble oil and low salt content water are alternately introduced into said well, each of said successive quantities of soluble oil amounting to between about 0.1 to 1.5 barrels per foot of vertical thickness of said reservoir, and thereafter resuming the injection of said aqueous liquid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 9 wherein said soluble oil contains from about 10 to 60 volume percent water present in the form of a water-in-oil microemulsion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
In the method of improving the productivity of a production well completed in an oil-bearing reservoir wherein production from the well is interrupted and a solvent forced into the formation surrounding the well, the improvement which comprises employing as the solvent a soluble oil comprised of an admixture of (1) about 45 to 90 volume percent crude oil exhibiting a gravity between about 27* and 50* API and a pour point below about 55* F.; about 4 to 30 volume percent surfact active agent; and (3) about 0.5 to 8 volume percent partially oxygenated organic stabilizing agent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method defined in claim 13 wherein said soluble oil is substantially anhydrous and contains water in an amount less than 10 volume percent.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
26 words
The method defined in clam 13 wherein said soluble oil contains from about 10 to 60 volume percent water present in the form of water-in-oil microemulsion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined in claim 13 wherein said soluble oil is introduced into said well in an amount equivalent to about 0.5 to 3.0 barrels of soluble oil per foot of vertical thickness of said reservoir.
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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) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |