Patent US4295980A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4295980A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Waterflood method
Assignee: ConocoPhillips Co
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Filing: 1979-12-14
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Granted: 1981-10-20
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Expires: 1999-12-14
Abstract
Abstract An improvement is disclosed in the method of recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation by use of an aqueous mixture containing an alkali metal hydrocarbon sulfonate and a solubilizing agent (e.g. isobutanol). Briefly, the improvement comprises using as the sulfonate an alkali metal C 20 -C 24 alkane sulfonate.
Inventors
- 👤 Kaye L. Motz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 04:34
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/584; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
An improvement in the method of recovering hydrocarbons from a petroliferous subterranean formation, said method including the step of injecting into said formation an aqueous saline mixture containing an alkali metal hydrocarbon sulfonate and a solubilizing agent, said improvement comprising injecting into said formation an aqueous saline mixture containing an effective amount of (a) about 0.5 to about 25 weight percent of an alkali metal linear alkane sulfonate wherein the alkane moiety contains 20 to 24 carbon atoms, (b) about 1 to about 25 weight percent of a water-soluble solubilizing agent, and (c) about 0.5 to about 3 weight percent of a salinity agent which is an alkali metal salt, said method being characterized further in that the water-soluble solubilizing agent is a water-soluble C 1 -C 5 alcohol.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
An improvement in the method of recovering hydrocarbons from a petroliferous subterranean formation, said method including the step of injecting into said formation an aqueous saline mixture containing an alkali metal hydrocarbon sulfonate and a solubilizing agent, said improvement comprising injecting into said formation an aqueous saline mixture containing an effective amount of (a) about 0.5 to about 25 weight percent of an alkali metal linear alkane sulfonate wherein the alkane moiety contains 20 to 24 carbon atoms, (b) about 1 to about 25 weight percent of a water-soluble solubilizing agent, and (c) about 0.5 to about 3 weight percent of a salinity agent which is an alkali metal salt, said method being characterized further in that the water-soluble solubilizing agent is a water-soluble C 1 -C 5 alcohol.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the alkali metal is sodium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the sodium alkane sulfonate comprises a mixture of sulfonates containing 20, 22, and 24 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the salinity agent is sodium chloride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the solubilizing agent is isobutanol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the solubilizing agent is isopropanol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: (a) the amount of alkali metal linear alkane sulfonate is about 1 to about 5 weight percent, (b) the amount of water-soluble solubilizing agent is about 3 to about 10 weight percent, and (c) the amount of salinity agent is about 0.75 to about 2.75 weight percent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the alkali metal is sodium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the sodium alkane sulfonate comprises a mixture of sulfonates containing 20, 22, and 24 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the salinity agent is sodium chloride.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the solubilizing agent is isobutanol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the solubilizing agent is isopropanol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 7 wherein there is used: (a) 3.0 weight percent of sodium alkane sulfonates which comprises a mixture of sulfonates containing 20, 22, and 24 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety, (b) 4.1 weight percent isobutanol, and (c) 1.5 weight percent sodium chloride.
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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) | 1984-10-19 | 1985-04-20 | 1985-10-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-10-19 | 1989-04-20 | 1989-10-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-10-19 | 1993-04-20 | 1993-10-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |