US4046196A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Secondary oil recovery process
Assignee: Texaco Inc
•
Filing: 1976-03-18
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Granted: 1977-09-06
•
Expires: 1996-03-18
Abstract
Abstract Oil is recovered from an oil-bearing subterranean formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well by injecting into the formation via the injection well a solution of a normally solid polymerized methacrylate and oil displaced by the injected solution is recovered from the formation via the production well. Optionally, after the solvent solution has been injected, a hydrocarbon slug such as crude oil, petroleum distillate, a soluble oil composition, etc. may be injected and, if desired, this may be followed by injection of water.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred Brown
- 👤 Stephen F. Hager
- 👤 Moutaz Chichakli
- 👤 Ching H. Wu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:14
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/588; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
The process for recovering oil from an oil-bearing subterranean formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well which comprises: a. injection into the formation via the injection well a solution of a normally solid, polymerized methacrylate in a water miscible solvent, and b. recovering from the formation the oil displaced by the injected solution via the said production well, and wherein the said polymerized methacrylate is a homopolymer having recurring units of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R is alkyl of from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
The process for recovering oil from an oil-bearing subterranean formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well which comprises: a. injection into the formation via the injection well a solution of a normally solid, polymerized methacrylate in a water miscible solvent, and b. recovering from the formation the oil displaced by the injected solution via the said production well, and wherein the said polymerized methacrylate is a homopolymer having recurring units of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R is alkyl of from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein in (a) the said solvent is an aliphatic ketone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein in (a) the said solvent is acetone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein in (a) the said solvent is methyl ethyl ketone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the concentration of said polymerized methacrylate in the water miscible solvent is from about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the said polymerized methacrylate is polyisobutyl methacrylate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
113 words
A process for recovering oil from an oil-bearing subterranean formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well which comprises: a. injecting into the formation via the said injection well a solution of a normally solid polymerized methacrylate in a water miscible solvent; b. injecting into the formation via the said injection well a hydrocarbon fluid, c. injecting into the formation via the injection well a solution of a water-soluble polymer, and d. recovering from the formation oil displaced via the said production well, and wherein the said polymerized methacrylate is a homopolymer having recurring units of the formula: ##STR3## wherein R is alkyl of from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
A process for recovering oil from an oil-bearing subterranean formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well which comprises: a. injecting into the formation via the said injection well a solution of a normally solid polymerized methacrylate in a water miscible solvent; b. injecting into the formation via the said injection well a hydrocarbon fluid, c. injecting into the formation via the injection well a solution of a water-soluble polymer, and d. recovering from the formation oil displaced via the said production well, and wherein the said polymerized methacrylate is a homopolymer having recurring units of the formula: ##STR3## wherein R is alkyl of from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 7 wherein after step (d) water is injected into the formation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 7 wherein in step (a) a solution of polyisobutyl methacrylate is employed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 7 wherein in step (a) a solution of polymethyl methacrylate in acetone is employed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 7 wherein in step (c) a solution of partially hydrolyzed acrylamide is employed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 7 wherein in step (b) the said hydrocarbon is kerosine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 7 wherein in step (b) the said hydrocarbon is crude oil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the said hydrocarbon fluid in (b) is a soluble oil composition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the said hydrocarbon fluid in (b) comprises about 30 to 75 volume percent of a liquid hydrocarbon, about 10 to 32 volume percent of a surface active agent and about 3 to 7 volume percent of secondary butyl alcohol.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 15 wherein the said surface active agent is dodecyl benzene sulfonate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 7 wherein in (a) the said solvent is a ketone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 7 wherein in (a) the said solvent is acetone.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 7 wherein in (a) the said solvent is methyl ethyl ketone.
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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) | 1980-09-05 | 1981-03-07 | 1981-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-05 | 1985-03-07 | 1985-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-05 | 1989-03-07 | 1989-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |