Method of recovering oil and other hydrocarbon values from subterranean formations

Claim 1

Method of recovering petroleum values from subterranean formations which comprises: contacting at least a portion of the petroleum within the formation with an effective amount of an aqueous solution of a polymeric complex capable of releasing active hydrogen under the temperature and pressure conditions of the formation in a manner and for a time sufficient to permit the active hydrogen released by the polymeric complex to react with the petroleum within the formation, whereby low molecular weight hydrocarbons are produced in situ, generating an increased formation pressure adequate to produce petroleum values from at least one well drilled into said formation.

Claim 7

The method of enhancing recovery of petroleum values from subterranean formations having relatively low formation bottomhole pressures which comprises: contacting the petroleum within the formation with an effective amount of a polymeric complex material capable of releasing active hydrogen under the temperature and pressure conditions existing within the formation and, thereafter, sealing in said formation for a time period sufficient to permit reaction of the active hydrogen released by said polymeric complex material with the petroleum within the formation and the resultant generation of sufficient pressure within said formation to enable increased production from at least one well drilled into said formation.

Claim 8

The method of enhancing recovery of petroleum values from subterranean formations having relatively low formation bottomhole pressures which comprises: contacting the petroleum within the formation with an effective amount of a polymeric complex material capable of releasing active hydrogen under the temperature and pressure conditions existing within the formation and, thereafter, sealing in said formation for a time period sufficient to permit reaction of the active hydrogen released by said polymeric complex material with the petroleum within the formation and the resultant generation of sufficient pressure within said formation to enable increased production from at least one well drilled into said formation.

Claim 16

The method of improving the production of crude petroleum values from a petroleum bearing formation which comprises: injecting through at least one well drilled into said formation an effective amount of an inorganic polymeric complex consisting essentially of a polymer having the following repeated structure: ##STR4## Wherein M' is sodium or potassium, M" is silicon or aluminum, and X is selected from nitrogen, phosphorus or sulfur in dilute aqueous solution sufficient to produce a concentration of said inorganic polymeric complex within the formation between about 400 to 100,000 ppm, by weight; in a manner sufficient to maintain the pH of said aqueous solution above about 11.5 during the injection and when the solution reaches the oil bearing reservoir within said formation; shutting in the injection well and any other wells drilled into said formation until sufficient pressure has been generated within the formation to improve the rate of production of petroleum values therefrom, and producing from at least one well drilled into said formation according to appropriate recovery procedures.

Claim 17

The method of improving the production of crude petroleum values from a petroleum bearing formation which comprises: injecting through at least one well drilled into said formation an effective amount of an inorganic polymeric complex consisting essentially of a polymer having the following repeated structure: ##STR4## Wherein M' is sodium or potassium, M" is silicon or aluminum, and X is selected from nitrogen, phosphorus or sulfur in dilute aqueous solution sufficient to produce a concentration of said inorganic polymeric complex within the formation between about 400 to 100,000 ppm, by weight; in a manner sufficient to maintain the pH of said aqueous solution above about 11.5 during the injection and when the solution reaches the oil bearing reservoir within said formation; shutting in the injection well and any other wells drilled into said formation until sufficient pressure has been generated within the formation to improve the rate of production of petroleum values therefrom, and producing from at least one well drilled into said formation according to appropriate recovery procedures.