US3722593A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Limiting contamination in waste disposal wells
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
•
Filing: 1971-03-29
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-03-29
Abstract
Abstract Contamination of underground aquifers by waste materials injected through disposal wells is limited by injecting a mobility buffer ahead of the waste material. The mobility buffer is an oil-external or water-external micellar dispersion having sufficiently low mobility to inhibit fingering of the waste material. A more favorable mobility ratio can be achieved by injecting a series of consecutively mobility graded dispersions into the aquifer.
Inventors
- 👤 F Poettmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:55
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21F; E21F17/00; E21F17/16; E21B; E21B41/00; E21B41/005; E21B41/0057; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion is comprised of hydrocarbon, aqueous medium, and surfactant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the micellar dispersion contains cosurfactant and/or electrolyte.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the micellar dispersion is comprised of about 2 to about 90 percent hydrocarbon, about 1 to about 95 percent water and at least about 4 percent surfactant, the percents based on volume.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 1 wherein at least the front portion of the micellar dispersion has a mobility about equal to or less than about the mobility of formAtion fluids in front of the micellar dispersion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 1 wherein at least the back portion of the micellar dispersion has a mobility about equal to or greater than about the mobility of the front portion of the contaminating fluids flowing in the formation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein an aqueous insulating slug is injected between the micellar dispersion and the contaminating fluids to inhibit degradation of the micellar dispersion by the contaminating fluids.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion contains a mobility reducing agent in either the hydrocarbon phase or the water phase, or optionally, both phases.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
A process of limiting aquifer contamination of waste materials being injected into an aquifer through an injection means in fluid communication with the aquifer, the method comprising injecting into the aquifer in advance of the waste materials about 0.1 to about 25 percent formation pore volume, based on the anticipated pore volume to be occupied by the total amount of waste materials to be injected, of a micellar dispersion having a sufficiently low mobility to inhibit the tendency of the waste materials to finger into at least portions of the aquifer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the micellar dispersion is comprised of hydrocarbon, aqueous medium, surfactant, and optionally cosurfactant and/or electrolyte.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 9 wherein at least the front portion of 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.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 9 wherein at least the back portion of the micellar dispersion has a mobility about equal to or greater than about the mobility of the front portion of the waste materials flowing in the formation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 9 wherein an aqueous insulating slug is injected after the micellar dispersion and before the waste materials to prevent at least immediate degradation of the mobility of the micellar dispersion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |