US4194564A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Oil recovery method
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1978-10-10
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Granted: 1980-03-25
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Expires: 1998-10-10
Abstract
Abstract Oil is recovered from an underground petroleum reservoir which contains a brine having a salinity of from 50 to 220 kg/m 3 total dissolved solids by injecting an alkylarylpolyalkoxyalkylene sulfonte surfactant that exhibits phase stability in the brine or diluted brine. The surfactant is injected in an aqueous solution which is prepared with diluted brine which has a salinity slightly less than that required to cause partitioning of the surfactant out of the aqueous phase and to the oil-water interface or oil phase. The injection of surfactant is followed by the injection of a driving slug comprised of either diluted brine or thickened diluted brine.
Inventors
- 👤 Vernon H. Schievelbein
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
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A process for recovering petroleum from an underground reservoir wherein the reservoir is penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, said wells being in fluid communication with each other, and wherein the reservoir contains a brine with from 50 to 220 kg/m 3 salinity comprising: (a) preparing a surfactant solution wherein the surfactant is an alkylaryl polyethoxy alkylene sulfonate of the formula: ##STR3## wherein n is a number from 2 to 8 and X is a cation, which exhibits phase stability when mixed with small amounts of crude oil or distilled fractions thereof and a brine, said surfactant solution comprising from about 0.05 to 10.0 percent by weight surfactant and a brine or diluted brine having a salinity slightly less than the salinity required to produce partitioning of about one half of the surfactant solution out of the aqueous phase and into oil and emulsion phases; (b) injecting the surfactant solution through the injection means into the underground reservoir; (c) injecting a driving agent; and (d) recovering petroleum from the production means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A process for recovering petroleum from an underground reservoir wherein the reservoir is penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, said wells being in fluid communication with each other, and wherein the reservoir contains a brine with from 50 to 220 kg/m 3 salinity comprising: (a) preparing a surfactant solution wherein the surfactant is an alkylaryl polyethoxy alkylene sulfonate of the formula: ##STR3## wherein n is a number from 2 to 8 and X is a cation, which exhibits phase stability when mixed with small amounts of crude oil or distilled fractions thereof and a brine, said surfactant solution comprising from about 0.05 to 10.0 percent by weight surfactant and a brine or diluted brine having a salinity slightly less than the salinity required to produce partitioning of about one half of the surfactant solution out of the aqueous phase and into oil and emulsion phases; (b) injecting the surfactant solution through the injection means into the underground reservoir; (c) injecting a driving agent; and (d) recovering petroleum from the production means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant solution further comprises an effective amount of a sacrificial agent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant solution further comprises a minimal amount of crude oil or distilled fractions thereof sufficient to stabilize the solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant solution further comprises an amount of a hydrophilic polymer sufficient to raise the viscosity of the surfactant solution to an effective level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the driving agent has approximately the same salinity as the surfactant solution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the driving agent comprises brine and an amount of hydrophilic polymer sufficient to raise the viscosity of the driving agent to an effective level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
176 words
A process for recovering petroleum from an underground reservoir wherein the reservoir is penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, said wells being in fluid communication with each other, and wherein the reservoir contains a brine with from 50 to 220 kg/m 3 salinity comprising: (a) preparing a surfactant solution wherein the surfactant is an alkylarylpolyalkloxyalkylene sulfonate of the formula: ##STR4## where n is a number from 2 to 8 and X is a cation, which exhibits phase stability when mixed with small amounts of crude oil or distilled fractions thereof and a brine, said surfactant solution comprising from about 0.05 to 10.0 percent by weight surfactant and a brine or diluted brine having a salinity slightly less than the salinity required to produce partitioning of about one half of the surfactant solution out of the aqueous phase and into oil and emulsion phases; (b) injecting the surfactant solution through the injection means into the underground reservoir; (c) injecting a driving agent; and (d) recovering petroleum from the production means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
176 words
A process for recovering petroleum from an underground reservoir wherein the reservoir is penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, said wells being in fluid communication with each other, and wherein the reservoir contains a brine with from 50 to 220 kg/m 3 salinity comprising: (a) preparing a surfactant solution wherein the surfactant is an alkylarylpolyalkloxyalkylene sulfonate of the formula: ##STR4## where n is a number from 2 to 8 and X is a cation, which exhibits phase stability when mixed with small amounts of crude oil or distilled fractions thereof and a brine, said surfactant solution comprising from about 0.05 to 10.0 percent by weight surfactant and a brine or diluted brine having a salinity slightly less than the salinity required to produce partitioning of about one half of the surfactant solution out of the aqueous phase and into oil and emulsion phases; (b) injecting the surfactant solution through the injection means into the underground reservoir; (c) injecting a driving agent; and (d) recovering petroleum from the production means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the surfactant solution further comprises an effective amount of a sacrificial agent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the surfactant solution further comprises a minimal amount of crude oil or distilled fractions thereof sufficient to stabilize the solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the surfactant solution further comprises an amount of a hydrophilic polymer sufficient to raise the viscosity of the surfactant solution to an effective level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the driving agent has approximately the same salinity as the surfactant solution.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the driving agent comprises bring and an amount of a hydrophilic polymer sufficient to raise the viscosity of the driving agent to an effective level.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-03-25 | 1983-09-24 | 1984-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-03-25 | 1987-09-24 | 1988-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-03-25 | 1991-09-24 | 1992-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |