US4522261A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Biosurfactant and enhanced oil recovery
Assignee: University of Oklahoma
•
Filing: 1983-04-05
•
Granted: 1985-06-11
•
Expires: 2003-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A pure culture of Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 (ATCC No. 39307) and a process for using said culture and the surfactant lichenysin produced thereby for the enhancement of oil recovery from subterranean formations. Lichenysin is an effective surfactant over a wide range of temperatures, pH's, salt and calcium concentrations.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. McInerney
- 👤 Gary E. Jenneman
- 👤 Roy M. Knapp
- 👤 Donald E. Menzie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:44
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/84; C09K8/86; C09K8/88; C09K8/90; C09K8/905; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A process for enhancing the amount of oil recoverable from a waterflooded oil-containing formation comprising: injecting a quantity of viable Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 cells into the waterflooded oil-containing formation; and injecting a quantity of Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 nutrient into the waterflooded oil-containing formation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process for enhancing the amount of oil recoverable from a waterflooded oil-containing formation comprising: injecting a quantity of viable Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 cells into the waterflooded oil-containing formation; and injecting a quantity of Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 nutrient into the waterflooded oil-containing formation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 defined further to include the step of: sealing the waterflooded formation after nutrient injection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the nutrient is defined further as comprising a source of carbon selected from the group consisting of molasses, grain malts or grain worts and a source of nitrogen selected from the group consisting of alkali metal nitrates, ammonia, alkali metal ammonium salts, protein digests, protein hydrolysates, protein peptones or corn steep liquor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 3 defined further to include the step of: sealing the waterflooded formation after nutrient injection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claim 3 defined further to include, after injection of Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 cells: injecting diluted Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 nutrient capable of sustaining viable cells but not capable of inducing their proliferation, to disperse injected cells.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 5 defined further to include the step of: sealing the waterflooded formation after nutrient injection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 1 defined further to include, after injection of Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 cells: injecting a quantity of diluted Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 nutrient, capable of sustaining viable cells but not capable of inducing their proliferation, to disperse injected cells.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 7 defined further to include the step of: sealing the waterflooded formation after nutrient injection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process for enhancing the amount of oil recoverable from a waterflooded oil-containing formation comprising: injecting a quantity of viable Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 spores into the waterflooded oil-containing formation; and injecting a quantity of Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 nutrient into the waterflooded oil-containing formation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process for enhancing the amount of oil recoverable from a waterflooded oil-containing formation comprising: injecting a quantity of viable Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 spores into the waterflooded oil-containing formation; and injecting a quantity of Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 nutrient into the waterflooded oil-containing formation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 9 defined further to include the step of: sealing the waterflooded formation after nutrient injection.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the nutrient is defined further as comprising a source of carbon selected from the group consisting of molasses, grain malts or grain worts, and a source of nitrogen selected from the group consisting of alkali metal nitrates, alkali metal ammonium salts, ammonia, protein digests, protein hydrolysates, protein peptones or corn steep liquor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 11 defined further to include the step of: sealing the waterflooded formation after nutrient injection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 11 defined further to include, after injection of Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 spores: injecting a quantity of mineral medium, capable of sustaining viable spores but not capable of sustaining their germination into proliferating cells, to disperse the spores.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 13 defined further to include the step of: sealing the waterflooded formation after nutrient injection.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 9 defined further to include, after injection of Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 spores: injecting a quantity of mineral medium, capable of sustaining viable spores but not capable of including their germination, to disperse the spores.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 15 defined further to include the step of: sealing the waterflooded formation after nutrient injection.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process for enhancing the amount of oil recoverable from a waterflooded oil-containing formation comprising: injecting a quantity of lichenysin into the oil-containing formation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process for enhancing the amount of oil recoverable from a waterflooded oil-containing formation comprising: injecting a quantity of lichenysin into the oil-containing formation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the lichenysin is defined further as being contained in a bacterial culture medium obtained by culturing Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 cells in a nutrient medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 18 wherein the lichenysin is defined yet further as being contained in a broth produced by separation of Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 cells from the bacterial culture medium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 19 wherein the lichenysin is defined further as being at least partially purified from the broth.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 20 wherein the purification is further defined as comprising: bubbling air through the broth producing a foam; and recovering the foam as a partially purified lichenysin.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the purification is defined further as comprising the steps of: adjusting the pH of the foam to about 2.0, producing a precipitate; and recovering the precipitate as a further partially purified lichenysin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2413278A
Cited
US2975835A
Cited
US3305016A
Cited
US3032472A
Cited
US3288211A
Cited
US3326286A
Cited
US3340930A
Cited
US3391060A
Cited
US3853771A
Cited
US3844348A
Cited
US3937520A
Cited
US3966618A
Cited
US4010071A
Cited
US4128482A
Cited
US4119546A
Cited
US4141842A
Cited
US4085972A
Cited
US4184547A
Cited
US4352741A
Cited
US4300632A
Cited
US4332297A
Cited
US4349633A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-06-10 | 1988-12-10 | 1989-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-06-10 | 1992-12-10 | 1993-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-06-10 | 1996-12-10 | 1997-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |