US4277352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Demulsification of emulsions produced from surfactant recovery operations and recovery of surfactants therefrom
Assignee: Texaco Inc
•
Filing: 1979-03-26
•
Granted: 1981-07-07
•
Expires: 1999-03-26
Abstract
Abstract Treatment of emulsions of oil and water produced from surfactant recovery operations whereby the produced emulsions containing surfactants are demulsified and the surfactants are recovered in the water phase.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean B. Allison
- 👤 Mohan V. Kudchadker
- 👤 Lawrence E. Whittington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:53
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G33/00; C10G33/04; B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/04; B01D17/047; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
In an enhanced recovery process for the recovery of oil from a subterranean oil-bearing formation employing the injection of an aqueous slug comprising a petroleum sulfonate surfactant whereby an emulsion of oil and water is produced containing said surfactant in the oil phase from said formation, the method of treating said produced emulsion with a water soluble solubilizing agent selected from the group consisting of water-soluble alcohols or polyhydric alcohols, alkoxylated phenols, alkoxylated alkyl phenols, alkoxylated alcohols, polyoxyalkylated mercaptans, sulfated or sulfonated derivatives of alkoxylated phenols, the sulfated or sulfonated derivatives of the alkoxylated alcohols and mixtures thereof, wherein said solubilizing agent is contained in an aqueous medium thereby extracting said surfactant from said emulsion and partitioning said surfactant into said aqueous medium, said aqueous medium being recycled to said oil-bearing formation to continue said enhanced recovery process.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
In an enhanced recovery process for the recovery of oil from a subterranean oil-bearing formation employing the injection of an aqueous slug comprising a petroleum sulfonate surfactant whereby an emulsion of oil and water is produced containing said surfactant in the oil phase from said formation, the method of treating said produced emulsion with a water soluble solubilizing agent selected from the group consisting of water-soluble alcohols or polyhydric alcohols, alkoxylated phenols, alkoxylated alkyl phenols, alkoxylated alcohols, polyoxyalkylated mercaptans, sulfated or sulfonated derivatives of alkoxylated phenols, the sulfated or sulfonated derivatives of the alkoxylated alcohols and mixtures thereof, wherein said solubilizing agent is contained in an aqueous medium thereby extracting said surfactant from said emulsion and partitioning said surfactant into said aqueous medium, said aqueous medium being recycled to said oil-bearing formation to continue said enhanced recovery process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous slug contains fresh water, a saline solution or mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous medium contains said solubilizing agent in the amount of about 0.05 wt. % to about 5.0 wt. %.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said aqueous medium contains said solubilizing agent in amounts from about 0.1 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. %.
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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) | 1984-07-06 | 1985-01-05 | 1985-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-07-06 | 1989-01-05 | 1989-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-07-06 | 1993-01-05 | 1993-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |