US4457372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of recovering petroleum from underground formations
Assignee: Texaco Inc
•
Filing: 1981-11-06
•
Granted: 1984-07-03
•
Expires: 2001-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed in which the production of petroleum is improved or reinstated in formations that have been partially depleted by primary recovery techniques or where the communication between the injection well and the production well has been restricted by the swelling of water sensitive clays in the formation. In this method an aqueous fluid comprising polysaccharide in sufficient concentration to increase the viscosity of the aqueous fluid, a water soluble quanidine compound and a naturally occurring salt is injected into the formation through an injection well and petroleum and aqueous fluids are produced through a production well.
Inventors
- 👤 Martha S. Doster
- 👤 Alton J. Nute
- 👤 Charles A. Christopher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:21
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/02; C09K8/04; C09K8/06; C09K8/08; C09K8/58; C09K8/588; C09K8/60; C09K8/607; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for recovering petroleum from a subterranean petroleum-containing formation wherein there is at least one injection well penetrating and in communication with the formation and at least one production well penetrating and in communication with the formation by injection of an aqueous fluid through the formation from the injection well to the production well and producing petroleum and aqueous fluids through the production well and wherein the said injected aqueous fluid comprises a hydrated polysaccharide in sufficient concentration to increase the viscosity of the aqueous fluid, said polysaccharide being of the scleroglucan group of homopolysaccharides; said hydrated polysaccharide thickened with from about 0.5 wt% to about 25 wt% of a water soluble guanidine compound selected from the group consisting of guanidine hydrochloride, guanidine acetate, guanidine sulfate, guanidine carbonate, guanidine thiocyanate and guanidine nitrate; and about 25 wt% of NaCl.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for recovering petroleum from a subterranean petroleum-containing formation wherein there is at least one injection well penetrating and in communication with the formation and at least one production well penetrating and in communication with the formation by injection of an aqueous fluid through the formation from the injection well to the production well and producing petroleum and aqueous fluids through the production well and wherein the said injected aqueous fluid comprises a hydrated polysaccharide in sufficient concentration to increase the viscosity of the aqueous fluid, said polysaccharide being of the scleroglucan group of homopolysaccharides; said hydrated polysaccharide thickened with from about 0.5 wt% to about 25 wt% of a water soluble guanidine compound selected from the group consisting of guanidine hydrochloride, guanidine acetate, guanidine sulfate, guanidine carbonate, guanidine thiocyanate and guanidine nitrate; and about 25 wt% of NaCl.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The aqueous fluid comprising a hydrated polysaccharide in sufficient concentration to increase the viscosity of the aqueous fluid, said polysaccharide being of the scleroglucan group of homopolysaccharides, said hydrated polysaccharide thickened with from about 0.5 wt% to about 25 wt% of a water soluble guanidine compound selected from the group consisting of guanidine hydrochloride, guanidine acetate, guanidine sulfate, guanidine carbonate, guanidine thiocyanate and guanidine nitrate, and about 25 wt% of NaCl.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The aqueous fluid comprising a hydrated polysaccharide in sufficient concentration to increase the viscosity of the aqueous fluid, said polysaccharide being of the scleroglucan group of homopolysaccharides, said hydrated polysaccharide thickened with from about 0.5 wt% to about 25 wt% of a water soluble guanidine compound selected from the group consisting of guanidine hydrochloride, guanidine acetate, guanidine sulfate, guanidine carbonate, guanidine thiocyanate and guanidine nitrate, and about 25 wt% of NaCl.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of stimulating petroleum production in a subterranean petroleum-containing formation wherein there is at least one injection well penetrating and in communication with the formation and at least one production well penetrating and in communication with the formation comprising injecting an agueous fluid, comprising a hydrated polysaccharide in sufficient concentration to increase the viscosity of the aqueous fluid, from about 0.5 wt% to about 25 wt% of a water soluble guanidine compound and about 25 wt% of NaCl into the formation, allowing the formation to remain quiescent for a period of time then injecting said aqueous fluid, water or steam into the injection well and producing petroleum and aqueous fluids through the production well, said polysaccharide being of the scleroglucan group of homopolysaccharides said guanidine compound selected from the group consisting of guanidine hydrochloride, guanidine acetate, guanidine sulfate, guanidine carbonate, guanidine thiocyanate and guanidine nitrate.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of stimulating petroleum production in a subterranean petroleum-containing formation wherein there is at least one injection well penetrating and in communication with the formation and at least one production well penetrating and in communication with the formation comprising injecting an agueous fluid, comprising a hydrated polysaccharide in sufficient concentration to increase the viscosity of the aqueous fluid, from about 0.5 wt% to about 25 wt% of a water soluble guanidine compound and about 25 wt% of NaCl into the formation, allowing the formation to remain quiescent for a period of time then injecting said aqueous fluid, water or steam into the injection well and producing petroleum and aqueous fluids through the production well, said polysaccharide being of the scleroglucan group of homopolysaccharides said guanidine compound selected from the group consisting of guanidine hydrochloride, guanidine acetate, guanidine sulfate, guanidine carbonate, guanidine thiocyanate and guanidine nitrate.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for increasing the viscosity of a hydrated polysaccharide fluid for use in recovering petroleum said polysaccharide being of the scleroglucan group of homopolysaccharides, said method comprising adding from about 0.5 to about 25 percent by weight of a water soluble guanidine compound selected from the group consisting of guanidine hydrochloride, guanidine acetate, guanidine sulfate, guanidine carbonate, guanidine thiocyanate and guanidine nitrate and about 25 percent by weight of NaCl.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for increasing the viscosity of a hydrated polysaccharide fluid for use in recovering petroleum said polysaccharide being of the scleroglucan group of homopolysaccharides, said method comprising adding from about 0.5 to about 25 percent by weight of a water soluble guanidine compound selected from the group consisting of guanidine hydrochloride, guanidine acetate, guanidine sulfate, guanidine carbonate, guanidine thiocyanate and guanidine nitrate and about 25 percent by weight of NaCl.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2761837A
Cited
US3305016A
Cited
US3360043A
Cited
US3372749A
Cited
US3796266A
Cited
US4044831A
Cited
US4008766A
Cited
US4104193A
Cited
US4297226A
Cited
US4347146A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-07-03 | 1988-01-02 | 1988-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-03 | 1992-01-02 | 1992-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-03 | 1996-01-02 | 1996-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |