US4537253A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Micellar slug for oil recovery
Assignee: Lion Corp
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Filing: 1983-03-31
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Granted: 1985-08-27
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Expires: 2003-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A micellar slug for use in the recovery of oil is described, the slug containing a hydrocarbon, an aqueous medium, a surfactant, and a cosurfactant. The surfactant contains as an essential component an alpha-olefin sulfonate having 10 to 26 carbon atoms and containing 0.1% to 15% by weight by weight of a disulfonate. This micellar slug has an excellent salinity tolerance and hard-water resistance. Furthermore, the micellar slugs of the present invention are capable of forming micro-emulsions having a sufficiently low interfacial tension and, therefore, can improve oil recovery efficiency.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Morita
- 👤 Yasuyuki Kawada
- 👤 Junichi Yamada
- 👤 Toshiyuki Ukigai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:27
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/584; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936; Y10S507/937; Y10S507/938
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A micellar slug for use in the recovery of oil from subterranean reservoirs, said slug consisting essentially of a hydrocarbon, in the amount of about 2% to about 90% by weight, an aqueous medium, in the amount of about 4% to about 95% by weight, a surfactant in the amount of about 1% to about 3% by weight, and a cosurfactant in the amount of about 0.1% to about 20% by weight, said surfactant containing, as an essential component, an alpha-olefin sulfonate having 10 to 26 carbon atoms and containing 0.5% to 12% by weight of disulfonate said micellar slug further containing an aqueous component which is oil-phase water included from the subterranean reservoir which has an inorganic salt concentration of about 5% to 25%, so that the total inorganic salt concentration, after inclusion of the oil-phase water, is in the range of about 2% to 20%.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A micellar slug for use in the recovery of oil from subterranean reservoirs, said slug consisting essentially of a hydrocarbon, in the amount of about 2% to about 90% by weight, an aqueous medium, in the amount of about 4% to about 95% by weight, a surfactant in the amount of about 1% to about 3% by weight, and a cosurfactant in the amount of about 0.1% to about 20% by weight, said surfactant containing, as an essential component, an alpha-olefin sulfonate having 10 to 26 carbon atoms and containing 0.5% to 12% by weight of disulfonate said micellar slug further containing an aqueous component which is oil-phase water included from the subterranean reservoir which has an inorganic salt concentration of about 5% to 25%, so that the total inorganic salt concentration, after inclusion of the oil-phase water, is in the range of about 2% to 20%.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A micellar slug as claimed in claim 1, wherein said surfactant is an alpha-olefin sulfonate having 12 to 24 carbon atoms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
A micellar slug as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cosurfactant has the general formula: RO(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n H wherein n is a number of from 0 to about 4 and R is an alkyl or alkenyl group having 4 to 8 carbon atoms when n is zero and an alkyl or alkenyl group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, or an alkylphenyl group having 7 to 16 carbon atoms when n is not zero.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
A micellar slug for use in the recovery of oil, said slug consisting essentially of a hydrocarbon, in the amount of about 2% to about 90% by weight, an aqueous medium containing about 2% to 20% inorganic salt, in the amount of about 4% to about 95% by weight, a surfactant in the amount of about 1% to about 3% by weight, and a cosurfactant in the amount of about 0.1% to about 20% by weight, said surfactant containing, as an essential component, an alpha-olefin sulfonate having 10 to 26 carbon atoms and containing 0.5% to 12% by weight of a disulfonate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
A micellar slug for use in the recovery of oil, said slug consisting essentially of a hydrocarbon, in the amount of about 2% to about 90% by weight, an aqueous medium containing about 2% to 20% inorganic salt, in the amount of about 4% to about 95% by weight, a surfactant in the amount of about 1% to about 3% by weight, and a cosurfactant in the amount of about 0.1% to about 20% by weight, said surfactant containing, as an essential component, an alpha-olefin sulfonate having 10 to 26 carbon atoms and containing 0.5% to 12% by weight of a disulfonate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
148 words
A process for producing oil from an oil-bearing subterranean reservoir containing oil-phase water with a salt content of about 5% to about 25% by weight, said reservoir penetrated by wells, the process comprising the steps of: (1) injecting into said reservoir through an injection well the micellar slug consisting essentially of a hydrocarbon in an amount of about 2% to 90% by weight, an aqueous medium in the amount of about 4% to 95% by weight, a surfactant in the amount of about 1% to 30% by weight, and a cosurfactant in the amount of about 0.1% to 20% by weight, said surfactant containing, as an essential component, an alpha-olefin sulfonate having 10 to 26 carbon atoms and containing 0.5% to 12% by weight of a disulfonate; (2) injecting into said reservoir at least one driving fluid; and (3) recovering oil from said reservoir through a production well.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
A process for producing oil from an oil-bearing subterranean reservoir containing oil-phase water with a salt content of about 5% to about 25% by weight, said reservoir penetrated by wells, the process comprising the steps of: (1) injecting into said reservoir through an injection well the micellar slug consisting essentially of a hydrocarbon in an amount of about 2% to 90% by weight, an aqueous medium in the amount of about 4% to 95% by weight, a surfactant in the amount of about 1% to 30% by weight, and a cosurfactant in the amount of about 0.1% to 20% by weight, said surfactant containing, as an essential component, an alpha-olefin sulfonate having 10 to 26 carbon atoms and containing 0.5% to 12% by weight of a disulfonate; (2) injecting into said reservoir at least one driving fluid; and (3) recovering oil from said reservoir through a production well.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
137 words
A process for producing oil from an oil-bearing subterranean reservoir penetrated by wells which comprises the steps of: (1) injecting into said reservoir through an injection well the micellar slug consisting essentially of a hydrocarbon in an amount of about 2% to 90% by weight, an aqueous medium containing about 2% to 20% inorganic salt, in the amount of about 4% to 95% by weight, a surfactant in the amount of about 1% to 30% by weight, and a cosurfactant in the amount of about 0.1% to 20% by weight, said surfactant containing, as an essential component, an alpha-olefin sulfonate having 10 to 26 carbon atoms and containing 0.5% to 12% by weight of a disulfonate; (2) injecting into said reservoir at least one driving fluid; and (3) recovering oil from said reservoir through a production well.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
137 words
A process for producing oil from an oil-bearing subterranean reservoir penetrated by wells which comprises the steps of: (1) injecting into said reservoir through an injection well the micellar slug consisting essentially of a hydrocarbon in an amount of about 2% to 90% by weight, an aqueous medium containing about 2% to 20% inorganic salt, in the amount of about 4% to 95% by weight, a surfactant in the amount of about 1% to 30% by weight, and a cosurfactant in the amount of about 0.1% to 20% by weight, said surfactant containing, as an essential component, an alpha-olefin sulfonate having 10 to 26 carbon atoms and containing 0.5% to 12% by weight of a disulfonate; (2) injecting into said reservoir at least one driving fluid; and (3) recovering oil from said reservoir through a production well.
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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) | 1988-08-26 | 1989-02-25 | 1989-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-08-26 | 1993-02-25 | 1993-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-08-26 | 1997-02-25 | 1997-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |