US4085799A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil recovery process by in situ emulsification
Assignee: Texaco Inc
•
Filing: 1976-11-18
•
Granted: 1978-04-25
•
Expires: 1996-11-18
Abstract
Abstract Petroleum may be recovered from subterranean, petroleum-containing formations by injecting into the formation an organic liquid having dispersed therein, an alkali metal in very fine, preferably colloidal size range, particular form. The organic liquid containing the alkali metal dispersion is followed by injecting an aqueous fluid to react with the alkali metal, generating alkali metal hydroxide, hydrogen gas and heat in the formation which stimulates displacement of the petroleum by encouraging formation of low viscosity oil-in-water emulsions, as well as by thermal viscosity reduction effects, and dissolution of hydrogen gas in the viscous petroleum. The organic liquid having alkali metal dispersed therein may be preceded or followed by injecting crude petroleum from another formation which is prone to emulsify spontaneously and aid in the formation of low viscosity oil-in-water emulsions. Liquids containing emulsifying agents may also be used in combination with the present process, injected either in advance of or after injection of the organic liquid having alkali metal particles dispersed therein. Alkali metals suitable for use in this invention include sodium, potassium and lithium. This process may be used in combination with thermal stimulation processes including steam and/or hot water injection.
Inventors
- 👤 Issam S. Bousaid
- 👤 Alfred Brown
- 👤 Thomas W. Norman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:06
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/584; C09K8/592; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for recovering oil from a subterranean, oil containing, permeable formation penetrated by at least one injection well and by at least one spaced apart prodution well, both wells being in fluid communication with the formation, comprising: (a) injecting into the formation via the injection well an organic liquid which is liquid at formation conditions, having dispersed therein alkali metal particles, the size of the alkali metal particles being less than the size of the major flow channels of the formation; and (b) injecting water into the formation to displace the organic liquid alkali metal dispersion through the formation to react with water in the formation forming alkali metal hydroxide, hydrogen and generating heat; and (c) recovering oil displaced by the fluids of steps (a) and (b) from the formation via the production well.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for recovering oil from a subterranean, oil containing, permeable formation penetrated by at least one injection well and by at least one spaced apart prodution well, both wells being in fluid communication with the formation, comprising: (a) injecting into the formation via the injection well an organic liquid which is liquid at formation conditions, having dispersed therein alkali metal particles, the size of the alkali metal particles being less than the size of the major flow channels of the formation; and (b) injecting water into the formation to displace the organic liquid alkali metal dispersion through the formation to react with water in the formation forming alkali metal hydroxide, hydrogen and generating heat; and (c) recovering oil displaced by the fluids of steps (a) and (b) from the formation via the production well.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the alkali metal particles are in the colloidal size range.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the size range of the alkali metal particles is from about 1 to about 2 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the alkali metal is chosen from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the alkali metal is sodium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the alkali metal is potassium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the alkali metal is lithium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the organic liquid is a C 6 to C 20 hydrocarbon including mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the organic liquid of (a) is selected from the group consisting of kerosene, naphtha, natural gasoline, crude oil, petroleum ether, mineral spirits, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the concentration of alkali metal in the organic liquid is from about 10 to about 80 percent by weight.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the concentration of alkali metal in the organic liquid is from 35 to 50 percent by weight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the volume of organic liquid alkali metal dispersion injected into the formation is from about 1 to about 10 pore volume percent based on the volume of formation to be swept by the injected fluids.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as recited in claim 1 comprising the additional step of injecting into the formation prior to the injection of the nonaqueous liquid having alkali metal particles dispersed therein, from about 0.05 to about 5.0 pore volume percent of an organic liquid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as recited in claim 1 comprising the additional step of injecting into the formation immediately after injection of the organic liquid with alkali metal particles dispersed therein, from about 0.05 to about 5.0 pore volume percent of an organic liquid, to isolate the organic liquid containing alkali metal of (a) from the water injected according to (b).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 1 comprising the additional step of injecting into the formation a crude oil which is readily emulsified upon being contacted with water having dissolved therein alkali metal hydroxide, prior to step (a).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 1 comprising the additional step of injecting into the formation a slug of an aqueous liquid having dissolved therein an emulsifying surface active agent, prior to step (a).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as recited in claim 16 wherein the emulsifying surface active agent is selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide adducts of alkanols or alkyl phenols, alkyl (or alkylaryl) polyethoxy sulfates, alkyl (or alkylaryl) polyethoxyalkyl sulfonates, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 1 comprising the additional step of injecting a heated fluid comprising steam, hot water or a mixture thereof, into the formation prior to injecting the alkali metal dispersion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 1 comprising the additional step of injecting a heated fluid comprising steam, hot water of a mixture thereof into the formation after injection of the alkali metal dispersion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the dispersion of alkali metal in organic liquid is heated to a temperature greater than the melting point of the alkali metal and less than the boiling point of the organic liquid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the alkali metal dispersion in the organic liquid also contains a dispersing aid selected from the group consisting of dimer acids, copper oleate, aluminum tristearate, carbon black, lecithin, calcium stearate, zinc stearate, lead naphthenate and mixtures thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the organic liquid of step (a) has mixed therewith a crude oil which is readily emulsified upon being contacted with water having dissolved therein alkali metal hydroxide.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as recited in claim 1 comprising the additional step of injecting into the formation a crude oil which is readily emulsified upon being contacted with water having dissolved therein alkali metal hydroxide, between step (a) and step (b).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 1 comprising the additional step of injecting into the formation a slug of an aqueous liquid having dissolved therein an emulsifying surface active agent, between steps (a) and (b).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2288857A
Cited
US2218306A
Cited
US2672201A
Cited
US2799342A
Cited
US3298436A
Cited
US3326287A
Cited
US3342265A
Cited
US3648771A
Cited
CA933343A
Cited
US3796266A
Cited
US3811504A
Cited
US4007791A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-24 | 1981-10-24 | 1982-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-24 | 1985-10-24 | 1986-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-24 | 1989-10-24 | 1990-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |