US4249608A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Polymer-containing fluid and an oil recovery method using the fluid
Assignee: Texaco Inc
•
Filing: 1979-05-09
•
Granted: 1981-02-10
•
Expires: 1999-05-09
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an improved viscous, aqueous, hydrophilic polymer-containing fluid suitable for injection into porous media such as subterranean petroleum-containing earth formations and an oil recovery method in which the aqueous fluid is injected into the subterranean petroleum-containing formation. The fluid contains an effective amount of an aromatic treating substance, preferrably benzene, toluene, xylene, and low alkyl-substituted benzene or toluene. The improvement resulting from incorporation of this additive in the polymer fluid includes greatly increased resistance to microbial degradation of the polymer, improved screen factor, and improves the injectivity of the fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter H. Carter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:08
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/84; C09K8/86; C09K8/88; C09K8/90; C09K8/905; C09K8/58; C09K8/588; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of recovering oil from a subterranean, permeable, oil-containing formation penetrated by at least one injection well, and by at least one production well, both wells being in fluid communication with the formation, comprising injecting an aqueous fluid containing a viscosifying amount of a hydrophilic polymer, wherein the improvement comprises: incorporating in the fluid a bactericidal amount in the range of from 10 to 2000 parts per million of an aromatic treating compound having the following formula: ##STR2## wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are each hydrogen or C 1 -C 5 alkyl with the total number of carbon atoms in R 1 , R 2 and R 3 being from 0 to 5.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of recovering oil from a subterranean, permeable, oil-containing formation penetrated by at least one injection well, and by at least one production well, both wells being in fluid communication with the formation, comprising injecting an aqueous fluid containing a viscosifying amount of a hydrophilic polymer, wherein the improvement comprises: incorporating in the fluid a bactericidal amount in the range of from 10 to 2000 parts per million of an aromatic treating compound having the following formula: ##STR2## wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are each hydrogen or C 1 -C 5 alkyl with the total number of carbon atoms in R 1 , R 2 and R 3 being from 0 to 5.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the concentration of aromatic treating compound is from 50 to 1500 parts per million.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are each C 1 -C 3 alkyl.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the aromatic treating compound is selected from the group consisting of benzene, ethyl benzene, propyl benzene, butyl benzene, toluene, ethyl toluene, butyl toluene, propyl toluene, xylene and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the treating compound is toluene, xylene or a mixture thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method is recited in claim 4 wherein the fluid also contains a surfactant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the hydrophilic polymer is partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, a co-polymer of acrylamide and acrylic acid, a polysaccharide, a naturally occurring polymer, or a mixture thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the aqueous fluid contains at least 500 parts per million of the aromatic treating compound.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the aromatic treating compound is added to the polymer fluid prior to injecting it into the formation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the aromatic treating compound is added to water used to prepare the polymer-containing fluid prior to adding the polymer thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the polymer and aromatic treating compound are added to water simultaneously.
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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) | 1984-02-10 | 1984-08-11 | 1985-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-10 | 1988-08-11 | 1989-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-10 | 1992-08-11 | 1993-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |