Patent US2707471A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3841401A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for recovering hydrocarbon using polymer obtained by radiation polymerization
Assignee: Zeneca Inc
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Filing: 1972-11-06
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1992-11-06
Abstract
Abstract Improved waterflooding of an oil-bearing subterranean reservoir is obtained by flooding with a water-soluble polymer obtained as a product of radiation-induced polymerization of acrylamide and/or methacrylamide and acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and/or alkali metal salts thereof. The polymerization is preferably carried out in 10-60 percent aqueous monomer solution with gamma radiation. The mixture of monomers, before radiation, preferably contains 25-99 percent acrylamide and 75-1 percent sodium acrylate. Such polymers are useful as mobility and/or viscosity control agents. A miscible or miscible-like displacing slug can precede injection of the polymer.
Inventors
- 👤 A Restaino
- 👤 W Bristowe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:57
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/588; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A PROCESS FOR RECOVERING HYDROCARBON FROM A SUBSTERRANEAN RESERVOIR HAVING AN INJECTION MEANS IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH A PRODUCTION MEANS, THE PROCESS COMPRISING INJECTING INTO THE SUBSTERRANEAN RESERVOIR AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION COMPRISED OF A WATER-SOLUBLE POLYMER OBTAINED BY HIGH ENERGY IONIZING RADIATION POLYMERIZATION OF AT LEAST ONE MONOMER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ACRYLAMIDE AND METHACRYLAMIDE AND AT LEAST ONE MONOMER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ACRYLIC ACID, METHACYLIC ACID, ALKALI METAL ACRYLATE, AND ALKALI METAL METHACRYLATE IN CONCENTRATIONS OF ABOUT 10 PERCENT TO ABOUT 60 PERCENT BY WEIGH DISSOLVED MONOMER INAN AQUEOUS MEDIUM, THE RADIATION INTENSITY IS ABOUT 250 TO ABOUT 1,000,000 RADS/HR. AND THE RADIATION DOSE IS FROM ABOUT 500 RADS TO ABOUT 300.000 RADS, AND DISPLACING THE POLYMER TOWARD THE PRODUCTION MEANS TO RECOVER CRUDE OIL THERETHROUGH.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A PROCESS FOR RECOVERING HYDROCARBON FROM A SUBSTERRANEAN RESERVOIR HAVING AN INJECTION MEANS IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH A PRODUCTION MEANS, THE PROCESS COMPRISING INJECTING INTO THE SUBSTERRANEAN RESERVOIR AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION COMPRISED OF A WATER-SOLUBLE POLYMER OBTAINED BY HIGH ENERGY IONIZING RADIATION POLYMERIZATION OF AT LEAST ONE MONOMER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ACRYLAMIDE AND METHACRYLAMIDE AND AT LEAST ONE MONOMER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ACRYLIC ACID, METHACYLIC ACID, ALKALI METAL ACRYLATE, AND ALKALI METAL METHACRYLATE IN CONCENTRATIONS OF ABOUT 10 PERCENT TO ABOUT 60 PERCENT BY WEIGH DISSOLVED MONOMER INAN AQUEOUS MEDIUM, THE RADIATION INTENSITY IS ABOUT 250 TO ABOUT 1,000,000 RADS/HR. AND THE RADIATION DOSE IS FROM ABOUT 500 RADS TO ABOUT 300.000 RADS, AND DISPLACING THE POLYMER TOWARD THE PRODUCTION MEANS TO RECOVER CRUDE OIL THERETHROUGH.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process of claim 1 wherein one of the monomers is acrylic acid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process of claim 1 wherein one of the monomers is methacrylic acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process of claim 1 wherein one of the monomers is sodium acrylate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process of claim 1 wherein one of the monomers is sodium methacrylate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process of claim 1 wherein one of the monomers is acrylamide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process of claim 1 wherein the polymer is a copolymer obtained by copolymerizing acrylamide and sodium acrylate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process of claim 1 wherein the radiation intensity is within the range of about 1,000 to about 300,000 rads/hr.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process of claim 1 wherein the radiation dose is within the range of about 1,000 to about 100,000 rads.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous medium is at a pH within the range of about 3 to about 13.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process of claim 1 wherein the pH of the aqueous medium is within the range of about 8 to about 11.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous medium contains from about 25 percent to about 99 percent of acrylamide and from about 1 percent to about 75 percent of sodium acrylate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
119 words
A process of recovering crude oil from a subterranean reservoir having an injection means in fluid communication with a production means, the process comprising injecting into the reservoir an aqueous solution comprised of a water-soluble copolymer obtained by radiation polymerization of an aqueous solution comprised of about 10 percent to about 60 percent of a mixture of about 45 percent to about 85 percent acrylamide and from about 15 percent to about 55 percent sodium acrylate, the radiation intensity being within the range of about 5,000 to about 200,000 rads/hr. and the radiation dose being within the range of about 1,500 rads to about 50,000 rads, and displacing the copolymer toward the production means to recover crude oil therethrough.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
119 words
A process of recovering crude oil from a subterranean reservoir having an injection means in fluid communication with a production means, the process comprising injecting into the reservoir an aqueous solution comprised of a water-soluble copolymer obtained by radiation polymerization of an aqueous solution comprised of about 10 percent to about 60 percent of a mixture of about 45 percent to about 85 percent acrylamide and from about 15 percent to about 55 percent sodium acrylate, the radiation intensity being within the range of about 5,000 to about 200,000 rads/hr. and the radiation dose being within the range of about 1,500 rads to about 50,000 rads, and displacing the copolymer toward the production means to recover crude oil therethrough.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process of claim 13 wherein the copolymer obtained from the radiation polymerization is in the form of a gel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
A process of claim 13 wherein the radiation is gamma radiation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process of claim 13 wherein the sodium acrylate is present in a concentration of about 20 percent to about 50 percent.
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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) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |