Patent US4577688A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4577688A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Injection of steam foaming agents into producing wells
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1984-08-08
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Granted: 1986-03-25
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Expires: 2004-08-08
Abstract
Abstract The disclosed invention is a method of injecting steam foaming agents in conjunction with steam and usually, a non-condensable gas into production wells producing a substantially high water to oil ratio. The most preferred production wells for foaming agent injection are corner production wells of flooding patterns such as inverted 5- and 9-spots, especially when the flooding pattern contains infill wells between the central injection well and the corner production wells. Although the method of injecting foaming agent, steam and usually, a non-condensable gas is effective with any foaming agent, the method works particularly well with foaming agents of the general formula: RO(R'O).sub.n R"SO.sub.3 M where R is an alkyl radical, branched or linear, or an alkylaryl radical such as an alkylbenzene, alkyltoluene or alkylxylene group, having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, R' is ethyl, propyl or a mixture of ethyl and propyl, n has an average value of about 1 to about 20, R" is ethyl, propyl, hydroxypropyl or butyl and M is an alkali metal or ammonium ion.
Inventors
- 👤 Zean Z. Gassmann
- 👤 Jeffrey T. Hawkins
- 👤 Alfred Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:21
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/592; E; E21; E21B; E21B21/00; E21B21/14; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises: injecting steam into a production well; injecting into said production well; a mixture of steam, about 0.01 to about 1.5 thousand standard cubic feet of nitrogen and about 0.02% to about 1.5% by weight of a steam foaming agent, based upon the weight of steam in the injected mixture, said foaming agent represented by the formula, ##STR2## injecting steam into said production well; and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from a nearby well.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises: injecting steam into a production well; injecting into said production well; a mixture of steam, about 0.01 to about 1.5 thousand standard cubic feet of nitrogen and about 0.02% to about 1.5% by weight of a steam foaming agent, based upon the weight of steam in the injected mixture, said foaming agent represented by the formula, ##STR2## injecting steam into said production well; and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from a nearby well.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The process of claim 1 for recovering hydrocarbons, further comprising: injecting fluid into a central injection well; recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids at an infill well drilled into the formation between said production well and said central injection well; and wherein said production well is a corner well of an inverted five-spot or an inverted nine-spot pattern.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises: injecting into a production well a mixture of steam and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a foaming agent, based upon the weight of steam in the injected mixture, said foaming agent represented by the formula, RO(R'O).sub.n R"SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+, where R is an alkyl radical, branched or linear, having from about 15 to about 21 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, R' is ethyl or propyl, n has an average value of about 2 to about 5, R" is ethyl, propyl, hydroxypropyl or butyl, and M + is an alkali metal or ammonium ion; injecting steam into said production well; and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from a nearby well.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
137 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises: injecting into a production well a mixture of steam and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a foaming agent, based upon the weight of steam in the injected mixture, said foaming agent represented by the formula, RO(R'O).sub.n R"SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+, where R is an alkyl radical, branched or linear, having from about 15 to about 21 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, R' is ethyl or propyl, n has an average value of about 2 to about 5, R" is ethyl, propyl, hydroxypropyl or butyl, and M + is an alkali metal or ammonium ion; injecting steam into said production well; and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from a nearby well.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 3 for recovering hydrocarbons, further comprising the step of injecting steam into said production well prior to injection of said mixture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 3 for recovering hydrocarbons, wherein said production well is an infill well drilled into the formation between an injection well and a producing well.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 3 for recovering hydrocarbons, wherein said production well is a corner well of a drilling pattern selected from the group consisting of an inverted five spot pattern and an inverted nine spot pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground formation penetrated by at least one injection well, at least one corner production well and at least one infill well, which comprises: injecting steam into a corner production well; injecting into said corner production well a mixture of steam and about 0.02% to about 1.5% by weight of a foaming agent, based upon the weight of steam in the injected mixture, said foaming agent represented by the formula, ##STR3## injecting steam into said corner production well; and producing steam and hydrocarbons at an infill well.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
93 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground formation penetrated by at least one injection well, at least one corner production well and at least one infill well, which comprises: injecting steam into a corner production well; injecting into said corner production well a mixture of steam and about 0.02% to about 1.5% by weight of a foaming agent, based upon the weight of steam in the injected mixture, said foaming agent represented by the formula, ##STR3## injecting steam into said corner production well; and producing steam and hydrocarbons at an infill well.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
116 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises: injecting into an infill production well drilled into the formation between a central injection well and a production well a mixture of steam, about 0.01 thousand standard cubic feet to about 5 thousand standard cubic feet of a non-condensable gas and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a steam foaming agent based upon the weight of steam in the injected mixture; converting the central injection well to a production well; injecting steam into said infill production well; and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from one or more nearby wells.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises: injecting into an infill production well drilled into the formation between a central injection well and a production well a mixture of steam, about 0.01 thousand standard cubic feet to about 5 thousand standard cubic feet of a non-condensable gas and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a steam foaming agent based upon the weight of steam in the injected mixture; converting the central injection well to a production well; injecting steam into said infill production well; and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from one or more nearby wells.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
168 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an undergound hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises: injecting into a production well a mixture of steam, about 0.01 thousand standard cubic feet to about 5 thousand standard cubic feet of a non-condensable gas and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a steam foaming agent based upon the weight of steam in the injected mixture; injecting steam into said production well; and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from a nearby well; said foaming agent represented by the formula, RO(R'O).sub.n R"SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+, where R is an alkyl radical, branched or linear, or an alkylbenzene, alkyltoluene or alkylxylene group, having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, R' is ethyl, propyl or a mixture of ethyl and propyl, n has an average value of about 1 to about 20, R" is ethyl, propyl, hydroxypropyl or butyl, and M + is an alkali metal or ammomium ion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
168 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an undergound hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises: injecting into a production well a mixture of steam, about 0.01 thousand standard cubic feet to about 5 thousand standard cubic feet of a non-condensable gas and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a steam foaming agent based upon the weight of steam in the injected mixture; injecting steam into said production well; and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from a nearby well; said foaming agent represented by the formula, RO(R'O).sub.n R"SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+, where R is an alkyl radical, branched or linear, or an alkylbenzene, alkyltoluene or alkylxylene group, having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, R' is ethyl, propyl or a mixture of ethyl and propyl, n has an average value of about 1 to about 20, R" is ethyl, propyl, hydroxypropyl or butyl, and M + is an alkali metal or ammomium ion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 9 for recovering hydrocarbons, wherein said foaming agent is represented by the formula, ##STR4##
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 9 for recovering hydrocarbons, wherein said foaming agent represented by the formula, ##STR5##
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 9 for recovering hydrocarbons, wherein said foaming agent is represented by the formula, ##STR6##
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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) | 1989-03-24 | 1989-09-23 | 1990-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-24 | 1993-09-23 | 1994-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-24 | 1997-09-23 | 1998-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |