Patent US3718187A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3718187A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of injection well stimulation
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
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Filing: 1971-02-08
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Granted: 1973-02-27
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Expires: 1991-02-08
Abstract
Abstract Stimulation of injection walls in a heterogeneous reservoir (i.e., characteristically having differing permeability streaks) is improved by temporarily or permanently sealing off the highly permeable streaks with plugging agents and then stimulating the well with a micellar dispersion. This process provides a more uniform profile of the relative permeability of water flowing in the reservoir.
Inventors
- 👤 H Milton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:58
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/20; C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/50; C09K8/502
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said injection means is a cased wellbore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said injection means is an uncased wellbore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein about 0.1 to about 50 barrels per vertical foot of oil-bearing formation of the aqueous solution containing the plugging agent is injected into the formation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said micellar dispersion is characterized as water-external.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said micellar dispersion is characterized as oil-external.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion is comprised of hydrocarbon, aqueous medium and surfactant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the plugging agent is a high molecular weight, synthetic organic polymer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the organic polymer is a polyacrylamide, a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide or a derivative thereof, a partially hydrolyzed copolymer or a polyacrylamide or a derivative thereof or a combination thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion is comprised of about 1 to about 85 percent by volume hydrocarbon, about 5 to about 95 percent by volume of aqueous medium, and at least about 4 percent by volume of surfactant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
A process for recovering crude oil from an oil-bearing subterranean heterogeneous formation having at least one injection means in fluid communication with at least one production means and wherein the formation has highly permeable streaks immediately adjacent said injection means, the process comprising: a. injecting into the formation about 0.01 to about 10 barrels of a micellar dispersion per vertical foot of oil-bearing formation, the front portion of the micellar dispersion containing a plugging agent in amounts sufficient to effectively ''''plug'''' the highly permeable streaks in the formation, and b. displacing this micellar dispersion toward the production means to recover crude oil therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the plugging agent in the front portion of the micellar dispersion represents about 1 to about 50% by volume of the dispersion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said injection means is a cased wellbore.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said injection means is an uncased wellbore.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the micellar dispersion is characterized as being water-external.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the micellar dispersion is characterized as being oil-external.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the micellar dispersion is displaced toward the production means with water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the micellar dispersion is comprised of hydrocarbon, aqueous medium and surfactant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the plugging agent is a high molecular weight, synthetic organic polymer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 19 wherein the organic polymer is a polyacrylamide, a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide or a derivative thereof, a partially hydrolyzed copolymer of polyacrylamide or a derivative thereof or a combination thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the micellar dispersion is comprised of about 1 to about 85 percent by volume hydrocarbon, about 5 to about 95 percent by volume of aqueous medium, and at least about 4 percent by volume of surfactant.
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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) | 1976-02-27 | 1976-08-28 | 1977-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-27 | 1980-08-28 | 1981-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-27 | 1984-08-28 | 1985-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |