US3916995A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Secondary recovery method
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1974-12-20
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1994-12-20
Abstract
Abstract Significant improvement in the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation containing acidsoluble components is accomplished by injecting into the formation via an injection well drilled into a formation communicating with an adjacent producing well and containing acid-soluble components which may or may not have water-sensitive clays and shales included therein, an aqueous acidic solution of a compound hereinafter described whereupon the acid component reacts with the acid-soluble components of the formation creating passageways or enlarging existing passageways thus facilitating the flow of fluids therein and the compound prevents postprecipitation of dissolved salts and thereby increases the recovery of hydrocarbons from the formation through the adjacent producing well.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell D Shupe
- 👤 Jr Jim Maddox
- 👤 Jack F Tate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:59
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/62; C09K8/72; C09K8/74; C09K8/58; C09K8/584; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/17; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A METHOD FOR THE RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBONS FROM A HYDROCARBON-BEARING FORMATION CONTAINING ACID-SOLUBLE COMPONENTS HAVING AT LEAST ONE INJECTION WELL AND AT LEAST ONE PRODUCTION WELL PENETRATING THE SAID FORMATION AND IN FLUID COMMUNICATION, WHICH COMPRISES DISPLACING THROUGH THE FORMATION A COMPOSITION COMPRISING AN AQUEOUS, ACIDIC SOLUTION. CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 0.01 PERCENT TO ABOUT 5 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND FROM ABOUT 0.005 PERCENT TO ABOUT 2 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF A COMPOUND THEREIN, SAID COMPOUND BEING A WATER-SOLUBLE SULFONATED, ETHOXYLATED COMPOUND HAVING THE GENERAL FOMULA
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A METHOD FOR THE RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBONS FROM A HYDROCARBON-BEARING FORMATION CONTAINING ACID-SOLUBLE COMPONENTS HAVING AT LEAST ONE INJECTION WELL AND AT LEAST ONE PRODUCTION WELL PENETRATING THE SAID FORMATION AND IN FLUID COMMUNICATION, WHICH COMPRISES DISPLACING THROUGH THE FORMATION A COMPOSITION COMPRISING AN AQUEOUS, ACIDIC SOLUTION. CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 0.01 PERCENT TO ABOUT 5 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND FROM ABOUT 0.005 PERCENT TO ABOUT 2 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF A COMPOUND THEREIN, SAID COMPOUND BEING A WATER-SOLUBLE SULFONATED, ETHOXYLATED COMPOUND HAVING THE GENERAL FOMULA
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said compound is present in said aqueous acidic solution in an amount of from about 0.05 percent to about 1 percent by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is the sodium salt of a sulfonated pentaethoxylated octadecyl alcohol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is the sodium salt of a sulfonated triethoxylated tetradecyl alcohol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is the sodium salt of a sulfonated heptaethoxylated pentadecyl alcohol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is the sodium salt of a sulfonated pentaethoxylated mixed C12-C18 aliphatic alcohol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is the sodium salt of a sulfonated pentaethoxylated mixed C12 -C18 aliphatic alcohol, containing from about 35 to 45 percent C12 alkyl, 25 to 35 percent C14 alkyl, 15 to 25 percent C16 alkyl and 5 to 15 percent C18 alkyl groups.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carbon dioxide is present in an amount of from about 1 percent to about 3 percent by weight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said solution is injected down the injection well bore penetrating said formation under a pressure greater than the formation pressure and sufficient to create fractures in the formation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said solution is injected down the well bore penetrating said formation under a pressure greater than formation pressure but less than the pressure required to create fractures in the formation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
118 words
Method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation containing acid-soluble components and having at least one injection well and at least one production well penetrating the said formation in fluid communication, which comprises displacing through the formation a slug of an aqueous acidic solution of from about 0.01 percent to about 5 percent by weight of carbon dioxide containing therein from about 0.005 percent to about 2 percent by weight of a compound, said compound being the sodium salt of a sulfonated, pentaethoxylated octadecyl alcohol, thereafter injecting a slug of an aqueous drive fluid into the formation to drive the said composition through said formation toward said production well and recovering hydrocarbons through the production well.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
118 words
Method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation containing acid-soluble components and having at least one injection well and at least one production well penetrating the said formation in fluid communication, which comprises displacing through the formation a slug of an aqueous acidic solution of from about 0.01 percent to about 5 percent by weight of carbon dioxide containing therein from about 0.005 percent to about 2 percent by weight of a compound, said compound being the sodium salt of a sulfonated, pentaethoxylated octadecyl alcohol, thereafter injecting a slug of an aqueous drive fluid into the formation to drive the said composition through said formation toward said production well and recovering hydrocarbons through the production well.
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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) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |