US3768560A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Waterflood oil recovery with chromatographically balanced surfactant and
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
•
Filing: 1971-10-26
•
Granted: 1973-10-30
•
Expires: 1991-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A waterflood oil recovery process in which an aqueous liquid that contains a surfactant and a thickener is injected into a reservoir to displace oil toward a recovery location is improved by coordinating the types and proportions of the components. The thickener concentration is adjusted to provide a mobility at least substantially as low as that of the fluids in the reservoir, and the surfactant concentration is adjusted to provide a rate of frontal advance of surfactant that substantially equals the rate of frontal advance of thickener.
Inventors
- 👤 H Hill
- 👤 D Thigpen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 02:51
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/584; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 in which said surfactant and thickener-containing aqueous liquid is injected as a chemical slug preceding a slug of thickened aqueous liquid that precedes an aqueous drive liquid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 2 in which the frontal portion of said slug of thickened aqueous liquid has a mobility substantially as low as that of said chemical slug and the trailing portion of said thickened slug has a mobility substantially as high as that of said aqueous drive liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 in which said surfactant contains a mixture of petroleum sulfonates and polyoxylated alcohol sulfate surfactant materials.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 in which said surfactant and thickener-containing aqueous liquid contains a proportion of dissolved electrolyte that enhances the activity of said surfactant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 in which said thickener is a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 in which said thickener is a biopolymer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 in which said surfactant and thickener-containing aqueous liquid contains an emulsion modifier adapted to facillitate the breaking of oil field emulsions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 8 in which said emulsion modifier is iso butyl alcohol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 8 in which said surfactant contains a mixture of petroleum sulfonate and polyoxyalkylated alcohol sulfate surfactant materials.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 8 in which said thickener is a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 8 in which said surfactant and thickener-containing aqueous liquid is injected as a chemical slug preceding a slug of thickened aqueous liquid that precedes an aqueous drive liquid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 8 in which said thickener is a biopolymer.
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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) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |