US4323463A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Secondary recovery process
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1980-06-11
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Granted: 1982-04-06
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Expires: 2000-06-11
Abstract
Abstract Hydrocarbons are recovered from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well by displacing hydrocarbons toward the production well using a drive fluid such as water thickened with a terpolymer of acrylamide, acrylonitrile and acrylic acid or a terpolymer of acrylamide, acrylonitrile and acrylic acid alkoxylated with ethylene oxide. If desired, the drive fluid may be saturated with carbon dioxide and/or natural gas at the injection pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Abraham Morduchowitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:52
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/164; C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/588; C09K8/594; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean, hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well which comprises: (a) injecting into the formation via an injection well a drive fluid comprising brine having dissolved therein about 0.01 to about 5.0 weight percent of a terpolymer water insoluble, brine soluble, having a number average molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 2,000,000 and comprising recurring units of: ##STR4## wherein x, y and z represent the weight percent of the respective units in the said terpolymer and x ranges from about 50 to about 60 weight percent, y ranges from about 20 to about 30 weight percent and z ranges from about 10 to about 20 weight percent and wherein M is the radical --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n H wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 3 inclusive (b) forcing the said fluid through the formation and (c) recovering hydrocarbons through the production well.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean, hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well which comprises: (a) injecting into the formation via an injection well a drive fluid comprising brine having dissolved therein about 0.01 to about 5.0 weight percent of a terpolymer water insoluble, brine soluble, having a number average molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 2,000,000 and comprising recurring units of: ##STR4## wherein x, y and z represent the weight percent of the respective units in the said terpolymer and x ranges from about 50 to about 60 weight percent, y ranges from about 20 to about 30 weight percent and z ranges from about 10 to about 20 weight percent and wherein M is the radical --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n H wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 3 inclusive (b) forcing the said fluid through the formation and (c) recovering hydrocarbons through the production well.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the said drive fluid is saturated with carbon dioxide at a pressure of about 300 to about 3000 psig.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the said drive fluid is saturated with natural gas at a pressure of about 300 to about 3000 psig.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the said drive fluid includes about 0.005 to 0.3 weight percent of an alkaline agent selected from the group consisting of sodium hdyroxide, potassium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said drive fluid contains about 0.001 to about 1.0 weight percent of a surfactant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said drive fluid contains about 0.001 to about 1.0 weight percent of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkylaryl sulfonates and alkyl polyethoxylated sulfates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the total salt concentration of said brine containing drive fluid is from about 2,000 ppm to about 20,000 ppm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
A fluid comprising brine having dissolved therein about 0.01 to about 5.0 weight percent of a terpolymer water insoluble, brine soluble, having a number average molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 2,000,000, and comprising recurring units of: ##STR5## wherein x, y and z represent the weight percent of the respective units in the said terpolymer and x ranges from about 50 to about 60 weight percent, y ranges from about 20 to about 30 weight percent and z ranges from about 10 to about 20 weight percent and wherein M is the radical --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n H, wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 3 inclusive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
A fluid comprising brine having dissolved therein about 0.01 to about 5.0 weight percent of a terpolymer water insoluble, brine soluble, having a number average molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 2,000,000, and comprising recurring units of: ##STR5## wherein x, y and z represent the weight percent of the respective units in the said terpolymer and x ranges from about 50 to about 60 weight percent, y ranges from about 20 to about 30 weight percent and z ranges from about 10 to about 20 weight percent and wherein M is the radical --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n H, wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 3 inclusive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fluid of claim 8 wherein about 0.005 to about 0.3 weight percent of an alkaline agent selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite is included.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The fluid of claim 8 wherein about 0.001 to about 1.0 weight percent of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkylaryl sulfonates and alkyl polyethoxylated sulfates is included.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fluid of claim 8 wherein the total salt concentration is about 2,000 ppm to about 20,000 ppm.
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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) | 1985-04-05 | 1985-10-05 | 1986-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-04-05 | 1989-10-05 | 1990-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-04-05 | 1993-10-05 | 1994-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |