US3927718A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Secondary recovery method
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1973-12-26
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Granted: 1975-12-23
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Expires: 1993-12-26
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 an admixture as 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 admixture prevents post-precipitation of dissolved salts and thereby increases the recovery of hydrocarbons from the formation through the adjacent producing well.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack F Tate
- 👤 Jr Jim Maddox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:21
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/62; C09K8/72; C09K8/74; C09K8/78; C09K8/58; C09K8/584; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/17; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A METHOD FOR THE RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBONS FROM A HYDROCARBON-BEARING FORMATION CONTAINING ACID-SIKYVKE CINOINENTS HAVING AT LEAST ONE INJECTION WELL AND AT LEAST ONE PRODUCTION WELL PENETRATING THE SAID FORMATION AND A FLUID COMMUNICATION, WHICH COMPRISES DISPLACING THROUGH THE FORMATION AND AQUEOUS ACIDIC SOLUTION OF 0.5 TO 15% BY WEIGHT OF A NON-OXIDIZING MINERAL ACID AND FROM ABOUT 0.005 TO ABOUT 1% BY WEIGHT OF AN ADMIXTURE THEREIN, AND RECOVERING HYDROCARBONS THROUGH THE PRODUCTION WELL, SAID ADMIXTURE BEING FORMED FROM ABOUT ONE PART BY WEIGHT OF (A) A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF A SULFATED/SULFONATED POLYETHOXY ALKYL PHENOL CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 8 TO ABOUT 14 CARBONS ATOMS IN THE ALKYL GROUP AND FROM ABOUT 4 TO ABOUT 10 ETHOXY GROUPS, THE CORRESPONDING ALKALI METAL AND AMMONIUM SALTS AND MIXTURES THEREOF, WITH (B) FROM ABOUT 1 TO ABOUT 3 PARTS BY WEIGHT OF A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF A C8-C14 ALKYL BENZENE SULFONIC ACID, THE CORRESPONDING ALKALI METAL AND AMMONIUM SALTS AND MIXTURES THEREOF.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
168 words
A METHOD FOR THE RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBONS FROM A HYDROCARBON-BEARING FORMATION CONTAINING ACID-SIKYVKE CINOINENTS HAVING AT LEAST ONE INJECTION WELL AND AT LEAST ONE PRODUCTION WELL PENETRATING THE SAID FORMATION AND A FLUID COMMUNICATION, WHICH COMPRISES DISPLACING THROUGH THE FORMATION AND AQUEOUS ACIDIC SOLUTION OF 0.5 TO 15% BY WEIGHT OF A NON-OXIDIZING MINERAL ACID AND FROM ABOUT 0.005 TO ABOUT 1% BY WEIGHT OF AN ADMIXTURE THEREIN, AND RECOVERING HYDROCARBONS THROUGH THE PRODUCTION WELL, SAID ADMIXTURE BEING FORMED FROM ABOUT ONE PART BY WEIGHT OF (A) A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF A SULFATED/SULFONATED POLYETHOXY ALKYL PHENOL CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 8 TO ABOUT 14 CARBONS ATOMS IN THE ALKYL GROUP AND FROM ABOUT 4 TO ABOUT 10 ETHOXY GROUPS, THE CORRESPONDING ALKALI METAL AND AMMONIUM SALTS AND MIXTURES THEREOF, WITH (B) FROM ABOUT 1 TO ABOUT 3 PARTS BY WEIGHT OF A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF A C8-C14 ALKYL BENZENE SULFONIC ACID, THE CORRESPONDING ALKALI METAL AND AMMONIUM SALTS AND MIXTURES THEREOF.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said admixture is present in said aqueous acidic solution in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 0.5% by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said admixture is formed from about one part by weight of said sulfated/sulfonated polyethoxy alkyl phenol to from about 1.2 to 2.75 parts by weight of said C8-C14 alkyl benzene sulfonic acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said admixture is composed of sulfated/sulfonated tetraethoxy nonyl phenol and ammonium dodecyl benzene sulfonate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said admixture is composed of sulfated/sulfonated hexaetHoxy nonyl phenol and sodium decyl benzene sulfonate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said admixture is composed of sulfated/sulfonated octaethoxy nonyl phenol and ammonium dodecyl benzene sulfonate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
Method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said admixture is composed of sulfated/sulfonated polyethoxy nonyl phenol wherein the average number of ethoxy groups therein is about 9.5, and sodium decyl benzene sulfonate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
Method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said acid is present in the solution in an amount of from about 1 to about 6% by weight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
Method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said acid is hydrochloric acid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
Method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said acid is sulfuric acid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
Method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said acid is present in the solution in an amount of from about 1 to about 3% by weight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
Method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the 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 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
Method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the 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 15
Independent Claim
193 words
A 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 0.5 to 6% by weight of hydrochloric acid and from about 0.05 to about 0.5% by weight of an admixture therein, said admixture being formed from about one part by weight of (A) a member selected from the group consisting of a sulfated/sulfonated polyethoxy alkyl phenol containing from about 8 to about 14 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from about 4 to about 10 ethoxy groups, the corresponding alkali metal and ammonium salts and mixtures thereof, with (B) from about 1 to about 3 parts by weight of a member selected from the group consisting of a C8-C14 alkyl benzene sulfonic acid, the corresponding alkali metal and ammonium salts and mixtures thereof, thereafter injecting a slug of an aqueous drive fluid into the formation to drive the said solution through the formation toward said production well and recovering hydrocarbons through the production well.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
193 words
A 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 0.5 to 6% by weight of hydrochloric acid and from about 0.05 to about 0.5% by weight of an admixture therein, said admixture being formed from about one part by weight of (A) a member selected from the group consisting of a sulfated/sulfonated polyethoxy alkyl phenol containing from about 8 to about 14 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from about 4 to about 10 ethoxy groups, the corresponding alkali metal and ammonium salts and mixtures thereof, with (B) from about 1 to about 3 parts by weight of a member selected from the group consisting of a C8-C14 alkyl benzene sulfonic acid, the corresponding alkali metal and ammonium salts and mixtures thereof, thereafter injecting a slug of an aqueous drive fluid into the formation to drive the said solution through the formation toward said production well and recovering hydrocarbons through the production well.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3724544A
Cited
US3811505A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-22 | 1979-06-23 | 1979-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-22 | 1983-06-23 | 1983-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-06-23 | 1987-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |