US4141416A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Enhanced oil recovery using alkaline sodium silicate solutions
Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
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Filing: 1977-09-27
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Granted: 1979-02-27
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Expires: 1997-09-27
Abstract
Abstract An enhanced oil recovery process for subterranean reservoirs wherein there is injected into the reservoir a relatively large slug of a dilute aqueous alkali metal silicate solution. It is optional to follow the silicate solution with an aqueous drive fluid. In treating heterogeneous reservoirs, it is further optional, prior to injecting the large slug of silicate solution, to inject one or more small slugs of the silicate solution alternately with one or more small slugs of a dilute aqueous solution of an agent that reacts with the alkali metal silicate to form a gelatinous precipitate. In the latter instance a small spacer slug of water is injected between successive slugs of the reactant solutions to separate the reactants during injection. It is still another option to precede the injection of the large slug of dilute aqueous alkali metal silicate solution with the injection of a slug of an aqueous solution of an alkali metal or ammonium salt selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, iodide and nitrate salts and admixtures thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 LeRoy W. Holm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:49
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/50; C09K8/504; C09K8/5045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A process for the enhanced recovery of oil from a subterranean reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well spaced therefrom which comprises injecting through an injection well and into said reservoir about 0.1 to about 1 reservoir pore volume of a dilute aqueous solution of alkaline alkali metal silicate having a molar ratio of M 2 O/SiO 2 of 1 or above wherein M is an alkali metal atom, which aqueous solution of alkaline alkali metal silicate reduces the interfacial tension of said oil with water at high pH to about 0.1 dyne/cm or less, and recovering oil at the production well.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A process for the enhanced recovery of oil from a subterranean reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well spaced therefrom which comprises injecting through an injection well and into said reservoir about 0.1 to about 1 reservoir pore volume of a dilute aqueous solution of alkaline alkali metal silicate having a molar ratio of M 2 O/SiO 2 of 1 or above wherein M is an alkali metal atom, which aqueous solution of alkaline alkali metal silicate reduces the interfacial tension of said oil with water at high pH to about 0.1 dyne/cm or less, and recovering oil at the production well.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process defined in claim 1 wherein said oil has an acid number of greater than about 0.1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process defined in claim 1 wherein from about 0.15 to about 0.4 reservoir pore volume of the dilute aqueous solution of alkaline alkali metal silicate is injected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process defined in claim 1 wherein the dilute aqueous solution of alkaline alkali metal silicate contains about 0.1 to 2 weight percent alkaline alkali metal silicate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process defined in claim 1 wherein the alkaline metal silicate is sodium or potassium orthosilicate, sodium or potassium metasilicate, sodium or potassium metasilicate pentahydrate, or potassium sesquisilicate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process defined in claim 5 wherein the alkaline alkali metal silicate is sodium orthosilicate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process defined in claim 1 wherein the injection of the dilute aqueous solution of alkali metal silicate is followed by a slug of an aqueous drive fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process defined in claim 7 wherein the aqueous drive fluid is water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
116 words
A process for the enhanced recovery of oil from a substerranean reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well spaced therefrom which comprises injecting through an injection well and into said reservoir about 0.15 to about 0.4 reservoir pore volume of an aqueous solution containing about 0.1 to 2 weight percent of an alkaline alkali metal silicate having a molar ratio of M 2 O/SiO 2 of 1 or above wherein M is an alkali metal atom which aqueous solution of alkaline alkali metal silicate reduces the interfacial tension of said oil with water at high pH to about 0.1 dyne/cm or less, and recovering oil at the production well.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
116 words
A process for the enhanced recovery of oil from a substerranean reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well spaced therefrom which comprises injecting through an injection well and into said reservoir about 0.15 to about 0.4 reservoir pore volume of an aqueous solution containing about 0.1 to 2 weight percent of an alkaline alkali metal silicate having a molar ratio of M 2 O/SiO 2 of 1 or above wherein M is an alkali metal atom which aqueous solution of alkaline alkali metal silicate reduces the interfacial tension of said oil with water at high pH to about 0.1 dyne/cm or less, and recovering oil at the production well.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process defined in claim 9 wherein said oil has an acid number of greater than about 0.1.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process defined in claim 9 wherein the alkaline metal silicate is sodium or potassium orthosilicate, sodium or potassium metasilicate, sodium or potassium metasilicate pentahydrate, or potassium sesquisilicate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process defined in claim 11 wherein the alkaline alkali metal silicate is sodium orthosilicate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process defined in claim 9 wherein the injection of the dilute aqueous solution of alkali metal silicate is followed by a slug of an aqueous drive fluid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process defined in claim 9 wherein the aqueous drive fluid is water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
147 words
A process for the enhanced recovery of oil from a subterranean reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well spaced therefrom which comprises sequentially injecting through an injection well and into said reservoir: (a) about 0.1 to about 1 reservoir pore volume of an aqueous solution of an alkali metal or ammonium salt selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, iodide and nitrate salts and admixtures thereof, and (b) about 0.1 to about 1 reservoir pore volume of a dilute aqueous solution of alkaline alkali metal silicate having a molar ratio of M 2 O/SiO 2 of 1 or above wherein M is an alkali metal atom, which aqueous solution of alkaline alkali metal silicate reduces the interfacial tension of said oil with water at high pH to about 0.1 dyne/cm or less, and recovering oil at the production well.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
147 words
A process for the enhanced recovery of oil from a subterranean reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well spaced therefrom which comprises sequentially injecting through an injection well and into said reservoir: (a) about 0.1 to about 1 reservoir pore volume of an aqueous solution of an alkali metal or ammonium salt selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, iodide and nitrate salts and admixtures thereof, and (b) about 0.1 to about 1 reservoir pore volume of a dilute aqueous solution of alkaline alkali metal silicate having a molar ratio of M 2 O/SiO 2 of 1 or above wherein M is an alkali metal atom, which aqueous solution of alkaline alkali metal silicate reduces the interfacial tension of said oil with water at high pH to about 0.1 dyne/cm or less, and recovering oil at the production well.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process defined in claim 15 wherein said aqueous solution of salt contains about 1 to about 5 percent by weight alkali metal or ammonium salt selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, iodide and nitrate salts and admixtures thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process defined in claim 15 wherein the aqueous solution of salt contains about 1 to about 5 percent by weight of sodium chloride.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
177 words
A process for the enhanced recovery of oil from a heterogeneous subterranean reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well spaced therefrom which comprises: (a) alternately injecting small slugs of: (1) a dilute aqueous solution of an alkaline alkali metal silicate having a molar ratio of M 2 O/SiO 2 or above wherein M is an alkali metal atom which aqueous solution of alkaline alkali metal silicate reduces the interfacial tension of said oil with water at high pH to about 0.1 dyne/cm or less; (2) water; (3) a dilute aqueous solution of a water-soluble material that reacts with the alkali metal silicate to form a precipitate; (4) water; and (b) injecting through the injection well about 0.1 to about 1 reservoir pore volume of an aqueous solution of an alkali metal or ammonium salt selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, iodide and nitrate salts and admixtures thereof, (c) injecting about 0.1 to about 1 reservoir pore volume of a dilute aqueous solution of said alkaline alkali metal silicate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
177 words
A process for the enhanced recovery of oil from a heterogeneous subterranean reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well spaced therefrom which comprises: (a) alternately injecting small slugs of: (1) a dilute aqueous solution of an alkaline alkali metal silicate having a molar ratio of M 2 O/SiO 2 or above wherein M is an alkali metal atom which aqueous solution of alkaline alkali metal silicate reduces the interfacial tension of said oil with water at high pH to about 0.1 dyne/cm or less; (2) water; (3) a dilute aqueous solution of a water-soluble material that reacts with the alkali metal silicate to form a precipitate; (4) water; and (b) injecting through the injection well about 0.1 to about 1 reservoir pore volume of an aqueous solution of an alkali metal or ammonium salt selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, iodide and nitrate salts and admixtures thereof, (c) injecting about 0.1 to about 1 reservoir pore volume of a dilute aqueous solution of said alkaline alkali metal silicate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process defined in claim 18 wherein said aqueous solution of salt contains about 1 to about 5 percent by weight alkali metal or ammonium salt selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, iodide and nitrate salts and admixtures thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process defined in claim 18 wherein the aqueous solution of salt contains about 1 to about 5 percent by weight of sodium chloride.
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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) | 1982-02-26 | 1982-08-28 | 1983-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-02-26 | 1986-08-28 | 1987-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-02-26 | 1990-08-28 | 1991-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |