US3734185A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Use of water-external micellar dispersions in oil recovery
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
•
Filing: 1971-11-01
•
Granted: 1973-05-22
•
Expires: 1991-11-01
Abstract
Abstract Secondary-type crude oil recovery is effected by injecting into a subterranean formation 1-20 percent formation pore volume of a water-external micellar dispersion of hydrocarbon and petroleum sulfonate dispersed in water and displacing it through the formation to recover crude oil therefrom.
Inventors
- 👤 S Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:08
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/20; C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/584
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water-external micellar dispersion contains semi-polar organic compound.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
injecting a mobility buffer into the formation, the mobility buffer characterized as having a mobility about equal to or less than the mobility of the formation fluids within the subterranean formation, and
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
injecting sufficient water drive into the formation to displace the micellar dispersion and mobility buffer toward a production means and recovering crude oil therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water-external micellar dispersion contains electrolyte.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion contains at least about 4 percent by volume of the sulfonate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the petroleum sulfonate is sodium sulfonate or ammonium sulfonate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the petroleum sulfonate is a sodium or ammonium sulfonate having an average equivalent weight of about 390 to about 460.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrOcarbon is unsulfonated hydrocarbon in the petroleum sulfonate.
Claim 9
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 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the mobility of the micellar dispersion is about equal to or less than the mobility of the formation fluids flowing ahead of the micellar dispersion within the subterranean formation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein a mobility buffer is injected into the formation after the micellar dispersion is injected therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the mobility buffer has a mobility about equal to or less than the mobility of the micellar dispersion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 11 wherein about 5 percent up to about 100 percent of the mobility buffer is characterized as having graded mobilities increasing from front to rear.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process of recovering crude oil from an oil-bearing subterranean formation having at least one injection means in fluid communication with at least one production means, comprising:
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the micellar dispersion contains electrolyte.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the micellar dispersion has a mobility about equal to or less than the mobility of the formation fluids ahead of the dispersion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the mobility buffer is characterized as having an average mobility between the mobility of the micellar dispersion and the mobility of the water drive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 13 wherein about 2 percent to about 10 percent formation pore volume of micellar dispersion is injected into the subterranean formation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 13 wherein about 5 percent to about 75 percent formation pore volume of mobility buffer is injected into the formation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 13 wherein about 5 percent to about 100 percent of the mobility buffer is characterized as having graded mobilities increasing from front to rear.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the petroleum sulfonate within the micellar dispersion has an average equivalent weight of about 390 to about 460.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the petroleum sulfonate has an average equivalent weight within the range of about 400 to about 420.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the micellar dispersion contains at least about 4 percent by volume of the sulfonate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the petroleum sulfonate is sodium sulfonate or ammonium sulfonate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the hydrocarbon is unsulfonated hydrocarbon in the petroleum sulfonate.
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) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |