US4172498A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sulfomethylated lignosulfonates as additives in oil recovery processes involving chemical recovery agents
Assignee: Texaco Inc
•
Filing: 1978-04-28
•
Granted: 1979-10-30
•
Expires: 1998-04-28
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 lignosulfonate salt as a sacrificial agent to inhibit the deposition of surfactant and/or polymer on the reservoir matrix. The process may best be carried out by injecting the sulfomethylated lignosulfonates into the formation through the injection well mixed with either a polymer, a surfactant solution and/or a micellar dispersion. This mixture would then be followed by a drive fluid such as water to push the chemicals to the production well.
Inventors
- 👤 George Kalfoglou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:02
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: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 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 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 lignosulfonates wherein the methylene sulfonate radical is added to the lignosulfonate and wherein the lignosulfonate is present in an amount effective for reducing the extent of adsorption of the surfactant by the formation matrix.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 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 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 lignosulfonates wherein the methylene sulfonate radical is added to the lignosulfonate and wherein the lignosulfonate is present in an amount effective for reducing the extent of adsorption of the surfactant by the formation matrix.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the lignosulfonates have a degree of sulfonation ranging from about 2.0 to saturation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the cation of the lignosulfonate salts is selected from the group consisting of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and ammonium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the lignosulfonate salts are present in amount sufficient to occupy substantially all of the active sites on the formation matrix.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well comprising: (a) injecting through the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of sulfomethylated lignosulfonates wherein the methylene sulfonate radical is added to the lignosulfonate, (b) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well an aqueous surfactant solution also containing sulfomethylated lignosulfonates as above, and wherein said sulfomethylated lignosulfonates of step (a) and step (b) are present in amounts effective for reducing the extent of adsorption of the surfactant by the formation matrix, and (c) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well comprising: (a) injecting through the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of sulfomethylated lignosulfonates wherein the methylene sulfonate radical is added to the lignosulfonate, (b) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well an aqueous surfactant solution also containing sulfomethylated lignosulfonates as above, and wherein said sulfomethylated lignosulfonates of step (a) and step (b) are present in amounts effective for reducing the extent of adsorption of the surfactant by the formation matrix, and (c) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein the solution of step (b) is followed by flooding water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein the sulfomethylated lignosulfonates have a degree of sulfonation ranging from about 2.0 to saturation.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well comprising: (a) injecting through the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of sulfomethylated lignosulfonates wherein the methylene sulfonate radical is added to the lignosulfonate in an amount effective for reducing the extent of adsorption of the surfactant specified in step (b) below by the formation matrix, (b) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well an aqueous surfactant solution and (c) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well comprising: (a) injecting through the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of sulfomethylated lignosulfonates wherein the methylene sulfonate radical is added to the lignosulfonate in an amount effective for reducing the extent of adsorption of the surfactant specified in step (b) below by the formation matrix, (b) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well an aqueous surfactant solution and (c) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein the surfactant solution of step (b) is followed by flooding water.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein the sulfomethylated lignosulfonates have a degree of sulfonation ranging from about 2.0 to saturation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3384171A
Cited
US3469630A
Cited
US3476188A
Cited
US3700031A
Cited
US3797574A
Cited
US4088640A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-10-29 | 1983-04-30 | 1983-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-10-29 | 1987-04-30 | 1987-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-10-29 | 1991-04-30 | 1991-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |