US3800873A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Situ recovery of oil from tar sands using oil-external micellar dispersions
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
•
Filing: 1971-05-28
•
Granted: 1974-04-02
•
Expires: 1991-05-28
Abstract
Abstract Hydrocarbon from sub-surface tar sands having an injection means in fluid communication with a production means is recovered by first heating the tar sands, then injecting an oil-external micellar dispersion into the tar sands and displacing it towards the production means to recover hydrocarbon through the production means. The tar sands are heated to a temperature sufficiently high to cause the incoming micellar dispersion to become heated to a temperature above 100*F by the time it travels about 7.5-15 feet into the tar sands. The micellar dispersion can be preceded by a slug of hot water, above 100*F., and the water can have a pH greater than about 7. Also, the water within the micellar dispersion can have a pH of about 7-14 and, preferably the dispersion is at a temperature up to about 100*F. The micellar dispersion contains hydrocarbon, surfactant, aqueous medium, and optionally cosurfactant and/or electrolyte.
Inventors
- 👤 J Kelly
- 👤 Verne Kelly La
- 👤 F Poettmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:26
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/592; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
18 words
injecting about 1% to about 30% formation pore volume of the oil-external micellar dispersion into the tar sands,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water phase within the micellar dispersion has a pH within the range of about 7 to about 14.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein a slug of hot water at a temperature above 100*F. is injected into the sands before the micellar dispersion is injected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
thereafter, injecting about 5% to about 75% formation pore volume of a mobility buffer into the tar sands,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
and then injecting sufficient drive material to displace the micellar dispersion and mobility buffer toward the production means and recovering oil through the production means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the pH of the water is above about 7.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion is comprised of hydrocarbon, surfactant, and aqueous medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the micellar dispersion contains cosurfactant and/or electrolyte.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein steam is injected into the tar sands to heat the tar sands before the micellar dispersion is injected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
ALSO, THE WATER WITHIN THE MICELLAR DISPERSION CAN HAVE A PH OF ABOUT 7-14 AND, PREFERABLY THE DISPERSION IS AT A TEMPERATURE UP TO ABOUT 100:F. THE MICELLAR DISPERSION CONTAINS HYDROCARBON, SURFACTANT, AQUEOUS MEDIUM, AND OPTIONALLY COSURFACTANT AND/OR ELECTROLYTE.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein a mobility buffer is injected after the micellar dispersion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein an aqueous drive material is injected to displace the micellar dispersion toward the production means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process of recovering hydrocarbon from sub-surface tar sands having at least one injection means in fluid communication with at least one production means, comprising:
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the micellar dispersion is at a temperature above about ambient temperature and less than about 100*F.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 10 wherein up to about 100% formation pore volume of an aqueous preslug at a temperature greater than 100*F is injected into the tar sands before the micellar dispersion is injected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the pH of the aqueous preslug is about 7 to about 14.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the micellar dispersion is comprised of hydrocarbon, surfactant, and aqueous medium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the micellar dispersion contains cosurfactant and/or electrolyte.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the surfactant is petroleum sulfonate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the mobility buffer is an aqueous solution containing a mobility reducing agent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the drive material is aqueous.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 10 wherein steam is injected to heat the tar sands before the micellar dispersion is injected.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the water phase within the micellar dispersion has a pH of about 7 to about 14.
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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 |