US4181178A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil recovery by waterflooding with thickened surfactant solutions
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1977-12-12
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Granted: 1980-01-01
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Expires: 1997-12-12
Abstract
Abstract Waterflooding process for the recovery of oil for a subterranean formation in which at least a portion of the injected water is thickened by the addition of a sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol surfactant. The thickened water has a salinity within the range of 5-18 percent. The sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol has at least two ethylene oxide units to provide an HLB within the range of 10.0-14.0 and the lipophilic base contains from 16 to 20 carbon atoms. The thickened surfactant slug may be preceded by the injection of a relatively low viscosity surfactant slug and viscosity gradation of the thickened surfactant slug may be accomplished by varying the salinity and/or the concentration of the sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph G. Savins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:42
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/584; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
In a method for the recovery of oil from a subterranean oil reservoir having a temperature of at least 90° F. and penetrated by spaced injection and production systems wherein an aqueous fluid is introduced into said reservoir via said injection system to displace oil to said production system, the improvement comprising: employing as at least a portion of the fluid introduced into said injection system an aqueous solution of a surfactant having a viscosity less than that of the reservoir oil and thereafter a thickened aqueous liquid having a salinity within the range of 5-18 weight percent and containing a water-soluble sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol which increases the viscosity of said aqueous liquid to a value equal to or greater than the viscosity of the reservoir oil, said sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol having an HLB within the range of 10.0-14.0 and being characterized by the formula: R(OC.sub.2 H.sub.4).sub.n OC.sub.3 H.sub.6 SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+ wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing from 16 to 20 carbon atoms, n is at least 2, and M is an alkali metal, ammonium, or substituted ammonium ion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a method for the recovery of oil from a subterranean oil reservoir having a temperature of at least 90° F. and penetrated by spaced injection and production systems wherein an aqueous fluid is introduced into said reservoir via said injection system to displace oil to said production system, the improvement comprising: employing as at least a portion of the fluid introduced into said injection system an aqueous solution of a surfactant having a viscosity less than that of the reservoir oil and thereafter a thickened aqueous liquid having a salinity within the range of 5-18 weight percent and containing a water-soluble sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol which increases the viscosity of said aqueous liquid to a value equal to or greater than the viscosity of the reservoir oil, said sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol having an HLB within the range of 10.0-14.0 and being characterized by the formula: R(OC.sub.2 H.sub.4).sub.n OC.sub.3 H.sub.6 SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+ wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing from 16 to 20 carbon atoms, n is at least 2, and M is an alkali metal, ammonium, or substituted ammonium ion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous liquid contains said sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol in a concentration of at least 0.1 weight percent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous liquid contains said sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol in a concentration of at least 0.5 weight percent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous liquid contains said sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol in a concentration of 0.5-1.5 weight percent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said reservoir temperature is within the range of 100°-175° F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said reservoir has a temperature within the range of 100°-140° F.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol has an HLB within the range of 10.0-12.0.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7 wherein R contains from 16 to 18 carbon atoms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said thickened aqueous liquid contains a mixture of sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohols characterized by the formula of claim 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohols have an HLB within the range of 10.0-12.0.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a method for the recovery of oil from a subterranean oil reservoir having a temperature of at least 90° F. and penetrated by spaced injection and production systems wherein an aqueous fluid is introduced into said reservoir via said injection system to displace oil to said production system, the improvement comprising: employing as at least a portion of the fluid introduced into said injection system a thickened aqueous liquid having a salinity within the range of 5-18 weight percent and containing a water-soluble sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol which increases the viscosity of said aqueous liquid to a value equal to or greater than the viscosity of the reservoir oil, said sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol having an HLB within the range of 10.0-14.0 and being characterized by the formula: R(OC.sub.2 H.sub.4).sub.n OC.sub.3 H.sub.6 SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+ wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing from 16 to 20 carbon atoms, n is at least 2, and M is an alkali metal, ammonium, or substituted ammonium ion, and progressively decreasing the viscosity of a rear portion of said thickened aqueous liquid by varying at least one of the salinity or the concentration of said sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a method for the recovery of oil from a subterranean oil reservoir having a temperature of at least 90° F. and penetrated by spaced injection and production systems wherein an aqueous fluid is introduced into said reservoir via said injection system to displace oil to said production system, the improvement comprising: employing as at least a portion of the fluid introduced into said injection system a thickened aqueous liquid having a salinity within the range of 5-18 weight percent and containing a water-soluble sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol which increases the viscosity of said aqueous liquid to a value equal to or greater than the viscosity of the reservoir oil, said sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol having an HLB within the range of 10.0-14.0 and being characterized by the formula: R(OC.sub.2 H.sub.4).sub.n OC.sub.3 H.sub.6 SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+ wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing from 16 to 20 carbon atoms, n is at least 2, and M is an alkali metal, ammonium, or substituted ammonium ion, and progressively decreasing the viscosity of a rear portion of said thickened aqueous liquid by varying at least one of the salinity or the concentration of said sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the viscosity of said rear portion is decreased by decreasing the salinity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the viscosity of said rear portion is decreased by decreasing the concentration of said sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol.
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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) | 1982-12-31 | 1983-07-02 | 1984-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-12-31 | 1987-07-02 | 1988-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-12-31 | 1991-07-02 | 1992-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |