US3800872A
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US
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Methods and compositions for recovery of oil
Assignee: Getty Oil Co
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Filing: 1972-10-10
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Granted: 1974-04-02
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Expires: 1992-10-10
Abstract
Abstract Methods are provided for recovery of petroleum oil from a subterranean formation which include injecting into the formation an aqueous flooding medium which assumes a viscosity in oil-rich portions of the formation that is significantly less than the viscosity assumed in the portions low in oil content, the flooding medium thereby preferentially driving the oil, as opposed to water, from the formation. In one embodiment, the flooding medium comprises a pH control agent having a partition coefficient in favor of oil, change in pH occuring when the flooding medium meets oil, the pH change resulting in marked change in viscosity of the flooding medium. In one particular embodiment, the flooding medium includes guar gum and borate ion, which will complex upon the pH change. In another embodiment, the flooding medium includes a material such as guar which imparts a high viscosity but is subject to rapid degradation by the bacteria in the formation, and a poisoning agent for the bacteria, such as ortho-cresol, which is preferentially soluble in oil. In yet another embodiment the flooding medium comprises an aqueous solution of sodium carboxymethylcellulose in combination with other agents which include, in specific preferred embodiments, chromium potassium sulfate and ortho-cresol. Methods of post primary recovery are provided which include injection of a flooding medium of this type into an injection well, whereupon the flooding medium enters oil-rich and waterrich portions of the formation but assumes a viscosity in the water-rich portions which is much greater than that in the oilrich portions, inhibiting fluid flow through the water-rich portions. Well fluids are then produced from a producing well at favorable oil-to-water production ratios.
Inventors
- 👤 R Friedman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:26
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/84; C09K8/86; C09K8/88; C09K8/887; C09K8/58; C09K8/588; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/903; Y10S507/92; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the aqueous medium includes a viscosity building ingredient, a reactive agent suitable for reacting with said viscosity building ingredient to form a gel, and a delayed reaction catalyst.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said viscosity building ingredient is sodium carboxymethylcellulose.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of recovering petroleum oil from a subterranean oil formation which includes injecting into said formation an aqueous flooding medium which includes a trigger chemical that is preferentially soluble in oil as compared to water, the dissolving of said trigger chemical in oil being effective to significantly reduce the viscosity of the flooding medium in oil-rich portions of the formation, whereupon the medium will preferentially displace the oil from the formation, wherein said trigger chemical is a bactericide which, upon dissolution, leaves a viscosity-building portion of said medium vulnerable to degradation by formation bacteria.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a method of recovering oil from a subterranean oil formation, the step of introducing into said reservoir an aqueous flooding medium having a material therein which is preferentially soluble in oil, said medium being less viscous when said material transfers to oil, wherein said aqueous medium contains by weight based on water about 0.1 to 0.2 percent guar gum, borate ion, in an amount sufficient to complex with about 15 to about 40 percent of the guar gum and an organic base preferentially soluble in oil over water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
In a method of recovering oil from a subterranean oil formation, the step of introducing into said reservoir an aqueous flooding medium having a material therein which is preferentially soluble in oil, said medium being less viscous when said material transfer to oil, wherein said aqueous medium contains by weight based on water less than about 0.05 percent guar gum, borate ion, and an organic acid preferentially soluble in oil over water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
In a method of recovering oil from a subterranean oil formation, the step of introducing into said reservoir an aqueous flooding medium having a material therein which is preferentially soluble in oil, said medium being less viscous when said material transfers to oil, wherein said flooding medium contains a material which imparts a high viscosity to the medium but which is subject to rapid bacterial degradation by the bacteria in the formation, and the material which is preferentially soluble in oil is a poisoning agent for said bacteria.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method defined in claim 7, wherein said substance includes polysaccharide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method defined in claim 7, wherein said aqueous medium contains guar gum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method defined in claim 7, wherein said poisoning agent is ortho-cresol.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for recovering petroleum oil from a subterranean formation having portions thereof which are oil-rich and other portions thereof which are water-rich, said method comprising: injecting into said formation a flooding medium comprising an aqueous solution of sodium carboxymethylcellulose, a reactive agent suitable for greatly increasing the viscosity Of said carboxymethylcellulose, and a delayed reaction catalyst, said flooding medium assuming a high viscosity after a substantial period of time in said water-rich portions of the formation, but being ineffective to increase in viscosity in said oil-rich portions of said formation, thereby inhibiting fluid flow through said water-rich portions to preferentially force said flooding meding through oil-rich portions whereupon oil will be driven toward a producing well.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein said reactive agent is chromium potassium sulfate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein said delayed reaction catalyst is ortho-cresol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein said delayed reaction catalyst is an electron donor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said electron donor is selected from the group consisting of tert-butylamine, dicyclohexylamine, and benzaldehyde.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein said sodium carboxymethylcellulose is present in a concentration of from about 0.05 to about 0.07 percent by weight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said reactive agent is chromium potassium sulfate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein said chromium potassium sulfate is present in a concentration of from about 0.02 to about 0.03 percent by weight.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein said delayed reaction catalyst is selected from the group consisting of orthocresol, tert-butylamine, dicyclohexylamine, and benzaldehyde.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for recovering petroleum oil from a subterranean formation having portions thereof which are oil-rich and other portions thereof which are water-rich, said method comprising: providing an aqueous flooding medium comprising a viscosity building ingredient, a reactive agent which will react with said viscosity building ingredient to greatly increase the viscosity thereof in an aqueous atmosphere, and a delayed reaction catalyst which promotes said reaction but prevents reaction for a significant period of time after initial mixing, injecting said aqueous flooding medium into an injection well in said formation, whereupon said medium enters both oil-rich and water-rich portions of said formation, said flooding medium assuming a high viscosity after a substantial period of time in said water-rich portions of the formation, but being ineffective to increase in viscosity in said oil-rich portions of said formation, thereby inhibiting fluid flow through said water-rich portions to perferentially force said flooding medium through oil-rich portions whereupon oil will be driven toward a producing well, and thereafter producing well fluids from said producing well.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method in accordance with claim 20, wherein said viscosity building agent is sodium carboxymethylcellulose.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein said reactive agent is chromium potassium sulfate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein said delayed reaction catalyst is selected from the group consisting of ortho-cresol, tert-butylamine, dicyclohexylamine, and benzaldehyde.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein said sodium carboxymethylcellulose is present in a concentration of from about 0.05 to about 0.07 percent by weight.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein said reactive agent is chromium potassium sulfate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 25, wherein said chromium potassium sulfate is present in a concentration of from about 0.02 to about 0.03% by weight.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 25, wherein said aqueous medium comprises by weight about 0.06% sodium carboxymethylcellulose, about 0.024% chromium potassium sulfate, and about 0.055% delayed reaction catalyst selected from the group consisting of ortho-cresol, tert-butylamine, dicyclohexylamine, and benzaldehyde.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for recovering petroleum oil from a subterranean formation having some portions which are water-rich and other portions which are oil-rich, said formation also including at least first and second boreholes therein, said method comprising: providing an aqueous flooding medium which comprises sodium carboxymethylcellulose, chromium potassium sulfate, and ortho-cresol, passing said flooding medium into said first borehole and thence injecting said medium into said formation at a pressure in excess of the natural formation pressure in the well at said first bore-hole, said flooding medium being passed into both oil-rich and water-rich portions of said formation, whereupon said flooding medium assumes after a substantial period of time a high viscosity in said water-rich portions but maintains a viscosity in said oil-rich portions that is not significantly greater than the original viscosity of the medium, said flooding medium being thereby effective to substantially inhibit fluid flow through the water-rich portions and to thereby increase the oil-to-water ratio upon production, and thereafter producing well fluids from said second borehole.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein said aqueous medium contains by weight about 0.05-0.07 percent sodium carboxymethylcellulose, about 0.02-0.03 percent chromium potassium sulfate, and about 0.05-0.10 percent delayed reaction catalyst selected from the group consisting of ortho-cresol, tertbutylamine, dicyclohexylamine, and benzaldehyde.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein a cationic solution is injected into said formation through said injection well, prior to injection of said flooding medium.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
109 words
A composition for use as a flooding medium in post-primary recovery processes of petroleum oil from a subterranean formation, comprising a viscosity building ingredient, and an agent which promotes high viscosity buildup of said ingredient in water-rich portions of the formation but does not promote significant viscosity buildup of said ingredient in oil-rich portions of said formation, thereby inhibiting fluid flow through water-rich portions of the formation and preferentially flooding the oil-rich portions to increase the oil-to-water production ratio, wherein said viscosity building ingredient is guar gum, and said agent comprises a poisoning agent for bacteria that attack said guar gum, said poisoning agent being preferentially soluble in oil.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
105 words
A composition for use as a flooding medium in post-primary recovery processes of petroleum oil from a subterranean formation, comprising a viscosity building ingredient, and an agent which promotes high viscosity buildup of said ingredient in water-rich portions of the formation but does not promote significant viscosity buildup of said ingredient in oil-rich portions of said formation, thereby inhibiting fluid flow through water-rich portions of the formation and preferentially flooding the oil-rich portions to increase the oil-to-water production ratio, wherein said viscosity building ingredient is sodium carboxymethyl-cellulose and said agent is a reactive agent suitable for gelling said sodium carboxymethylcellulose in the presence of water.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
71 words
A composition for use as a flooding medium in post-primary recovery processes for the recovery of petroleum oil from a subterranean formation, comprising sodium carboxymethylcellulose, a reactive agent suitable for reacting with said sodium carboxymethyl-cellulose to greatly increase the viscosity thereof, and a delayed reaction catalyst suitable for delaying the reaction between reactive agent and sodium carboxymethylcellulose, but also being effective to promote that reaction after a substantial period of time.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
A composition in accordance with claim 33, wherein said reactive agent is chromium potassium sulfate and said delayed reaction catalyst is ortho-cresol.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
96 words
A composition for use as a flooding medium in post-primary recOvery processes for the recovery of petroleum oil from a subterranean formation, comprising sodium carboxymethylcellulose, a reactive agent suitable for reacting with said sodium carboxymethylcellulose to greatly increase the viscosity thereof, and a delayed reaction catalyst suitable for delaying the reaction between reactive agent and sodium carboxymethylcellulose, but also being effective to promote that reaction after a substantial period of time, wherein said reactive agent is chromium potassium sulfate and said delayed reaction catalyst is selected from the group consisting of ortho-cresol, tert-butylamine, dicyclohexylamine, and benzaldehyde.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
A composition in accordance with claim 35, wherein said aqueous medium includes by weight from about 0.02 to about 0.07 percent sodium carboxymethylcellulose, from about 0.02 to about 0.03 percent chromium potassium sulfate, and from about 0.05 to about 0.10 percent delayed reaction catalyst.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
A composition in accordance with claim 36, wherein the concentration of said sodium carboxymethylcellulose is about 0.06 percent, the concentration of said chromium potassium sulfate is about 0.024 percent, and the concentration of said delayed reaction catalyst is about 0.055 percent.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 35, wherein said delayed reaction catalyst is selected from the group consisting of ortho-cresol, tert-butylamine, dicyclohexylamine, and benzaldehyde.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of recovering petroleum oil from a subterranean oil formation which includes injecting into said formation an aqueous flooding medium which includes by weight from about 0.02 to about 0.07 percent sodium carboxymethylcellulose, a reactive agent suitable for cross-linking the sodium carboxymethylcellulose to increase the viscosity thereof in water, and a delayed reaction catalyst.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method in accordance with claim 39, wherein said reactive agent is chromium potassium sulfate.
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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) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |