US4072192A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sulfomethylated lignite salt as a sacrifical agent in oil recovery processes
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1976-02-04
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Granted: 1978-02-07
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Expires: 1996-02-04
Abstract
Abstract A process for producing petroleum from subterranean formations is disclosed wherein production from the formation is obtained by driving a fluid from an injection well to a production well. The process involves injecting via the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of sulfomethylated lignite salt as a sacrificial agent to inhibit the deposition of surfactant and/or polymer on the reservoir matrix. The process may be carried out by first injecting the sulfomethylated lignite salt into the formation through the injection well and following them with either a polymer or a surfactant solution which may also contain sulfomethylated lignite salt. The polymer and/or surfactant would then be followed by a drive fluid such as water to push the chemicals to the production well.
Inventors
- 👤 Mohan V. Kudchadker
- 👤 Walter J. Weiss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:29
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/84; C09K8/86; C09K8/88; C09K8/885; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein flooding water is injected into the subterranean formation comprising: (a) injecting through an injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of sulfomethylated lignite salt in an amount sufficient to adsorb on and occupy the active sites of the formation matrix and thereby diminish surfactant adsorption on said formation matrix, (b) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well an aqueous anionic surfactant solution effective for enhancing oil displacement efficiency of the flooding water, (c) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well flooding water; and (d) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein flooding water is injected into the subterranean formation comprising: (a) injecting through an injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of sulfomethylated lignite salt in an amount sufficient to adsorb on and occupy the active sites of the formation matrix and thereby diminish surfactant adsorption on said formation matrix, (b) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well an aqueous anionic surfactant solution effective for enhancing oil displacement efficiency of the flooding water, (c) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well flooding water; and (d) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the cation of the sulfomethylated lignite salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and ammonium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the amount of sulfomethylated lignite salt is sufficient to occupy substantially all of the active sites on the formation matrix.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein an aqueous anionic surfactant solution is injected into the injection well in order to drive the oil to the production well where it is produced the improvement which comprises: injecting into the injection well prior to the surfactant an aqueous solution of sulfomethylated lignite salt in an amount sufficient to adsorb on and occupy the active sites of the formation matrix and thereby diminish surfactant adsorption on said formation matrix.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein an aqueous anionic surfactant solution is injected into the injection well in order to drive the oil to the production well where it is produced the improvement which comprises: injecting into the injection well prior to the surfactant an aqueous solution of sulfomethylated lignite salt in an amount sufficient to adsorb on and occupy the active sites of the formation matrix and thereby diminish surfactant adsorption on said formation matrix.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein the cation of the sulfomethylated lignite salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and ammonium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein the amount of sulfomethylated lignite salt is sufficient to occupy substantially all of the active sites on the formation matrix.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein an aqueous anionic surfactant solution is injected into the injection well in order to drive the oil to the production well wherein it is produced the improvement which comprises: injecting into the injection well in admixture with the surfactant sulfomethylated lignite salt in an amount sufficient to adsorb on and occupy the active sites of the formation matrix and thereby diminish surfactant adsorption on said formation matrix.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein an aqueous anionic surfactant solution is injected into the injection well in order to drive the oil to the production well wherein it is produced the improvement which comprises: injecting into the injection well in admixture with the surfactant sulfomethylated lignite salt in an amount sufficient to adsorb on and occupy the active sites of the formation matrix and thereby diminish surfactant adsorption on said formation matrix.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein the cation of the sulfomethylated lignite salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and ammonium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein the amount of sulfomethylated lignite salt is present in an amount sufficient to occupy substantially all of the active sites on the formation matrix.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein flooding water is injected into the subterranean formation comprising: (a) injecting through an injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of sulfomethylated lignite salt in an amount sufficient to adsorb on and occupy the active sites of the formation matrix and thereby diminish surfactant adsorption on said formation matrix, (b) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well an aqueous surfactant solution comprising anionic and nonionic surfactants, (c) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well flooding water; and (d) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein flooding water is injected into the subterranean formation comprising: (a) injecting through an injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of sulfomethylated lignite salt in an amount sufficient to adsorb on and occupy the active sites of the formation matrix and thereby diminish surfactant adsorption on said formation matrix, (b) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well an aqueous surfactant solution comprising anionic and nonionic surfactants, (c) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well flooding water; and (d) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 10 wherein the cation of the sulfomethylated lignite salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and ammonium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 10 wherein the amount of sulfomethylated lignite salt is sufficient to occupy substantially all of the active sites on the formation matrix.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein an aqueous surfactant solution comprising anionic and nonionic surfactants is injected into the injection well in order to drive the oil to the production well where it is produced the improvement which comprises: injecting into the injection well prior to the surfactant solution effective for enhancing oil displacement efficiency of the flooding water an aqueous solution of sulfomethylated lignite salt in an amount sufficient to adsorb on and occupy the active sites of the formation matrix and thereby diminish surfactant adsorption on said formation matrix.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein an aqueous surfactant solution comprising anionic and nonionic surfactants is injected into the injection well in order to drive the oil to the production well where it is produced the improvement which comprises: injecting into the injection well prior to the surfactant solution effective for enhancing oil displacement efficiency of the flooding water an aqueous solution of sulfomethylated lignite salt in an amount sufficient to adsorb on and occupy the active sites of the formation matrix and thereby diminish surfactant adsorption on said formation matrix.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein the cation of the sulfomethylated lignite salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and ammonium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein the amount of sulfomethylated lignite salt is sufficient to occupy substantially all of the active sites on the formation matrix.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein an aqueous solution comprising anionic and nonionic surfactants is injected into the injection well in order to drive the oil to the production well wherein it is produced the improvement which comprises: injecting into the injection well in admixture with the surfactant solution sulfomethylated lignite salt in an amount sufficient to adsorb on and occupy the active sites of the formation matrix and thereby diminish surfactant adsorption on said formation matrix.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein an aqueous solution comprising anionic and nonionic surfactants is injected into the injection well in order to drive the oil to the production well wherein it is produced the improvement which comprises: injecting into the injection well in admixture with the surfactant solution sulfomethylated lignite salt in an amount sufficient to adsorb on and occupy the active sites of the formation matrix and thereby diminish surfactant adsorption on said formation matrix.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 16 wherein the cation of the sulfomethylated lignite salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and ammonium.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 16 wherein the amount of sulfomethylated lignite salt present is an amount sufficient to occupy substantially all of the active sites on the formation matrix.
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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) | 1981-02-06 | 1981-08-08 | 1982-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-06 | 1985-08-08 | 1986-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-06 | 1989-08-08 | 1990-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |