US3976582A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optimizing petroleum recovery micellar systems utilizing zeta potential
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
•
Filing: 1973-09-13
•
Granted: 1976-08-24
•
Expires: 1993-09-13
Abstract
Abstract Micellar systems having maximum zeta potential are utilized for the recovery of petroleum. The invention involves the discovery that, on varying the composition of micellar systems, the point of maximum zeta potential corresponds with the point of minimum sulfonate adsorption, e.g., on the formation rocks, and also corresponds with the point of maximum oil recovery by said micellar system.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry J. Douglas
- 👤 Charles B. Wenger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:13
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/20; C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/584
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
46 words
A process for stabilizing micellar systems for use in displacing petroleum in subterranean formations comprising surfactants, hydrocarbon, electrolyte solution in water, and cosurfactant by measuring the zeta potential of said micellar systems and thereafter varying the water or cosurfactant concentration to achieve a maximum zeta potential.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process for stabilizing micellar systems for use in displacing petroleum in subterranean formations comprising surfactants, hydrocarbon, electrolyte solution in water, and cosurfactant by measuring the zeta potential of said micellar systems and thereafter varying the water or cosurfactant concentration to achieve a maximum zeta potential.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process of claim 1 wherein the water or cosurfactant concentration is varied to achieve a zeta potential within 3 millivolts of the maximum zeta potential.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process of claim 1 wherein the water or cosurfactant concentration is varied to achieve a zeta potential within at least 6 millivolts of the maximum zeta potential.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
In a process for secondary recovery of petroleum by injecting of micellar systems in a subterranean petroleum-bearing reservoir to displace said petroleum, the improvement comprising preparing said micellar systems by mixing together a surfactant, hydrocarbon, electrolyte solution in water, and cosurfactant, and measuring the zeta potential of said micellar systems, the amount of cosurfactant being just sufficient to obtain a substantially maximum zeta potential.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
In a process for secondary recovery of petroleum by injecting of micellar systems in a subterranean petroleum-bearing reservoir to displace said petroleum, the improvement comprising preparing said micellar systems by mixing together a surfactant, hydrocarbon, electrolyte solution in water, and cosurfactant, and measuring the zeta potential of said micellar systems, the amount of cosurfactant being just sufficient to obtain a substantially maximum zeta potential.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 4 wherein said micellar systems have a zeta potential within 6 millivolts of the maximum zeta potential.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a process for the displacement of petroleum comprising injecting micellar systems into subterranean petroleum-bearing formations to displace petroleum, the improvement comprising in combination measuring the zeta potential of said micellar systems and formulating said micellar systems so that they comprise: a. From about 3 to about 20 weight percent of surfactant, b. From about 5 to about 60 percent by weight of water containing electrolytes, c. From about 10 to 60 percent by weight hydrocarbon, and d. Cosurfactant in a quantity sufficient to provide a micellar system having a zeta potential within 10 percent of the maximum obtainable for such compositions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a process for the displacement of petroleum comprising injecting micellar systems into subterranean petroleum-bearing formations to displace petroleum, the improvement comprising in combination measuring the zeta potential of said micellar systems and formulating said micellar systems so that they comprise: a. From about 3 to about 20 weight percent of surfactant, b. From about 5 to about 60 percent by weight of water containing electrolytes, c. From about 10 to 60 percent by weight hydrocarbon, and d. Cosurfactant in a quantity sufficient to provide a micellar system having a zeta potential within 10 percent of the maximum obtainable for such compositions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein said cosurfactant is selected from the group consisting of isopropyl alcohol, amyl alcohol, hexyl alcohol, cyclohexanone, and acetone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein said electrolytes comprise from about 5 to about 60 percent by weight based on the weight of the water of a salt selected from the group consisting of NaCl, Na 2 SO 4 , KCl, K 2 SO 4 , KOH, and CaCl 2 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein said micellar system is formulated to be completely miscible with oil and substantially immiscible with water-containing electrolytes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 9 wherein said cosurfactant is selected from the group consisting of isopropyl alcohol, amyl alcohol, hexyl alcohol, cyclohexanone, and acetone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a process for the displacement of petroleum comprising injecting micellar systems in the subterranean petroleum-bearing formations to displace said petroleum, the improvement comprising in combination measuring the zeta potential of said micellar systems and formulating said micellar systems so that they comprise: a. From about 3 to about 20 percent of surfactant, b. From about 10 to about 60 percent by weight hydrocarbon, c. From about 1 to about 3.5 percent cosurfactant, and d. Water in a quantity sufficient to provide a micellar system having a zeta potential within plus or minus 10 percent of the maximum obtainable for said composition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a process for the displacement of petroleum comprising injecting micellar systems in the subterranean petroleum-bearing formations to displace said petroleum, the improvement comprising in combination measuring the zeta potential of said micellar systems and formulating said micellar systems so that they comprise: a. From about 3 to about 20 percent of surfactant, b. From about 10 to about 60 percent by weight hydrocarbon, c. From about 1 to about 3.5 percent cosurfactant, and d. Water in a quantity sufficient to provide a micellar system having a zeta potential within plus or minus 10 percent of the maximum obtainable for said composition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 11 wherein said cosurfactant is selected from the group consisting of isopropyl alcohol, amyl alcohol, hexyl alcohol, cyclohexanone, and acetone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 11 wherein said micellar system is formulated to be completely miscible with oil and substantially immiscible with water-containing electrolytes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 13 wherein said cosurfactant is selected from the group consisting of isopropyl alcohol, amyl alcohol, hexyl alcohol, cyclohexanone, and acetone.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3330343A
Cited
US3275075A
Cited
US3740343A
Cited
US3512586A
Cited
US3504744A
Cited
US3536136A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-24 | 1980-02-23 | 1980-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-24 | 1984-02-23 | 1984-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-24 | 1988-02-23 | 1988-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |