US3921716A
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: 1975-11-25
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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
- 👤 Jack F Tate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:01
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/594; C09K8/60; C09K8/607; C09K8/62; C09K8/72; C09K8/74; C09K8/78; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/164; E21B43/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 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, WICH COMPRISES DISPLACING THROUGH THE FORMATION A COMPOSITION COMPRISING AN AQUEOUS ACIDIC SOLUTION CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 0.01 TO ABOUT 5% BY WEIGHT OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND FROM ABOUT 0.005 TO ABOUT 2% BY WEIGHT OF A COMPOUND THEREIN, SAID COMPOUND BEING A WATER-SOLUBLE SUBTITUTED TAURINE HAVING THE FOLLOWING GENERAL FORMULA:
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 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, WICH COMPRISES DISPLACING THROUGH THE FORMATION A COMPOSITION COMPRISING AN AQUEOUS ACIDIC SOLUTION CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 0.01 TO ABOUT 5% BY WEIGHT OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND FROM ABOUT 0.005 TO ABOUT 2% BY WEIGHT OF A COMPOUND THEREIN, SAID COMPOUND BEING A WATER-SOLUBLE SUBTITUTED TAURINE HAVING THE FOLLOWING GENERAL FORMULA:
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compound is present in said acidic solution in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 1%, by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the R1 substituent of said substituted taurine is a low molecular weight aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing from one to four carbon atoms therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
Composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the R substituent of said substituted taurine is at least one member selected from the group consisting of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, branched chain isomers and mixtures of said hydrocarbons.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substituted taurine is the sodium salt of N, N-methyloleoyltaurate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
Composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substituted taurine is the sodium salt of N, N-methylpalmitoyltaurate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substituted taurine is the sodium salt of N, N-methylacyl taurate, said acyl substituent being obtained from tall oil acids.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein in said substituted taurine, R is a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbon groups obtained from coconut oil acids.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
Composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substituted taurine, R is a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbon groups obtained from tallow oil acids.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
Composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein in said substituted taurine, R is a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbon groups obtained from tall oil acids.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carbon dioxide is present in an amount of from about 1 to about 3% by weight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
Method as claimed in claim 1, where 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 14
Dependent Claim
33 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 and sufficient to create fractures in the formation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
111 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 to about 5% by weight of carbon dioxide containing therein from about 0.005 to about 2% by weight of a compound, said compound being the sodium salt of N, N-methyloleoyltaurate, 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 16
Dependent Claim
111 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 to about 5% by weight of carbon dioxide containing therein from about 0.005 to about 2% by weight of a compound, said compound being the sodium salt of N, N-methyloleoyltaurate, 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) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |