US3688844A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil recovery process using micellar dispersions containing a metal phosphate
Assignee: WAYNE O ROSZELLE
•
Filing: 1971-03-29
•
Granted: 1972-09-05
•
Expires: 1991-03-29
Abstract
Abstract Improved oil recoveries are obtained in an oil-bearing subterranean reservoir having an interstitial water with a relatively high hardness by flooding the reservoir with a micellar dispersion which contains about 1 percent metal phosphate.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne O Roszelle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:47
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/584
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion is comprised of about 2 percent to about 90 percent hydrocarbon, about 5 percent to about 95 percent aqueous medium, and at least about 4% surfactant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the micellar dispersion optionally contains about 0.01 percent to about 20 percent cosurfactant and/or 0.001 percent to about 5 percent by weight of electrolyte.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein about 0.1 percent to about 3 percent by weight of the alkali metal phosphate is incorporated into the micellar dispersion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the interstitial water hardness is at least about 1,000 ppm equivalent calcium carbonate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein an aqueous mobility buffer is injected behind the micellar dispersion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the alkali metal phosphate is sodium hexametaphosphate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion is oil-external.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion is water-external.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the interstitial water hardness is at least about 5,000 ppm equivalent calcium carbonate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein about 1 percent to about 20 percent formation pore volume of the micellar dispersion is injected into the formation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
90 words
In a process for recovering crude oil from an oil-bearing subterranean formation having an interstitial water hardness of at least about 1,000 ppm equivalent calcium carbonate and wherein a micellar dispersion comprised of hydrocarbon, surfactant and aqueous medium is injected through an injection means into the reservoir to displace crude oil toward a production means in fluid communication with the subterranean reservoir and wherein crude oil is recovered through the production means, the improvement comprising incorporating into the micellar dispersion about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent of sodium hexametaphosphate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3021901A
Cited
US3258071A
Cited
US3191676A
Cited
US3203480A
Cited
US3254714A
Cited
US3506070A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |