Patent US3759325A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3759325A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Foam for secondary and tertiary recovery
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
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Filing: 1971-06-24
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1991-06-24
Abstract
Abstract Oil is moved in a subterranean oil-bearing formation by displacing the oil with a foamed oil-external micellar dispersion. The micellar dispersion, before foaming, contains 2 90 percent by volume hydrocarbon, at least about 4 percent by volume surfactant, about 5 - 90 percent by volume aqueous medium, and optionally 0.01 - 20 percent by volume cosurfactant and/or 0.0001 - 5 percent by weight electrolyte. Useful gases for foaming the dispersion include air, natural gas, nitrogen, flue gases, etc. The dispersion can be foamed before it is injected into the formation or it can be foamed in situ of the formation. A mobility buffer fluid and/or drive fluid may be used to displace the foam toward a production well to recover crude oil therethrough.
Inventors
- 👤 W Gogarty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:39
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/594; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
21 words
thereafter injecting into the formation about 5 to about 80 percent formation pore volume of a mobility buffer fluid, and then
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
41 words
injecting sufficient volumes of a foam-producing gas during the injection of the micellar dispersion to foam at least about 20 percent of the injected oil-external micellar dispersion, the foam-producing gas being compatible with the micellar dispersion and the subterranean formation, and
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the foam is produced in the subterranean formation by contacting the micellar dispersion with the foam-producing gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
7 words
recovering crude oil through said production means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the foam is produced at the surface and then injected into the subterranean formation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
thereafter displacing the foamed micellar dispersion toward the production means to recover crude oil therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
injecting sufficient amounts of a drive fluid to displace the foamed micellar dispersion and mobility buffer fluid toward the production means to recover crude oil therethrough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion is comprised of hydrocarbon, aqueous medium and surfactant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 4 wherein the micellar dispersion contains cosurfactant or electrolyte or cosurfactant and electrolyte.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the foamed micellar dispersion is displaced through the subterranean formation by injecting a drive fluid into the formation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the drive fluid is a gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the foamed micellar dispersion is displaced through the formation by injecting a mobility buffer fluid behind the foamed micellar dispersion and thereafter injecting a drive fluid to displace the foamed micellar dispersion and mobility buffer fluid toward the production means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 8 wherein about 5 to about 80 percent formation pore volume of the mobility buffer fluid is injected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 1 wherein about 0.5 to about 30 volumes of the foam producing gas is used to foam the oil-external micellar dispersion, the volume of gas based on the volume of the micellar dispersion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion is comprised of about 2 to about 90 percent by volume hydrocarbon, about 5 to about 90 percent by volume aqueous medium, and at least about 4 percent by volume of surfactant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the foam is produced in the well bore of the injection means and is then injected into the formation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process for recovering crude oil from an oil-bearing subterranean formation having at least one injection means in fluid communication with at least one production means, the process comprising:
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
ThE process of claim 13 wherein about 5 to about 80 percent formation pore volume of a mobility buffer fluid is injected behind the foamed micellar dispersion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 13 wherein a water drive is injected behind the foamed micellar dispersion to displace it toward the production means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the mobility buffer fluid is an aqueous solution containing a mobility reducing agent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process for recovering crude oil from an oil-bearing subterranean formation having at least one injection means in fluid communication with at least one production means, the process comprising:
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the mobility buffer fluid is an aqueous solution containing a partially hydrolyzed, high molecular weight polyacrylamide.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 17 wherein drive water is injected to displace the foamed micellar dispersion and mobility buffer fluid toward the production means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the micellar dispersion is foamed with air.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the micellar dispersion is foamed with natural gas.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the micellar dispersion is foamed with combustion products of natural gas.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process for increasing the injectivity of injection wells in fluid communication with an oil-bearing subterranean formation, the process comprising injecting into the formation the equivalent of about 0.1 to about 10 barrels per vertical foot of oil-bearing formation of an oil-external micellar dispersion wherein at least 20 percent of the micellar dispersion is foamed with a foam-producing gas compatible with the dispersion and displacing it out into the formation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 23 wherein at least a portion of the micellar dispersion is foamed in situ of the formation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 23 wherein the micellar dispersion is substantially foamed before it enters the formation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 23 wherein the foamed micellar dispersion is displaced into the formation by a water drive.
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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) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |