US4579173A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetized drive fluids
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
•
Filing: 1983-09-30
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Granted: 1986-04-01
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Expires: 2003-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A process for the recovery of a fluid from a porous formation whereby fingering effects are controlled by applied magnetic field. The process comprises injecting a displacement fluid and ferrofluid, or a ferrofluid-containing displacement fluid, in an effective amount to displace fluid from the formation, applying a magnetic field containing a gradient of field intensity across said formation, driving the displaced fluid through the formation and recovering the displaced first fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald E. Rosensweig
- 👤 Markus Zahn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:03
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/92; C09K8/58; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/2401; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A process for recovering a first fluid from a porous subterranean formation which comprises injecting a displacement fluid in an effective amount to displace the first fluid, injecting a ferrofluid, applying a magnetic field containing a gradient of field intensity within said formation, driving the displacement fluid through the formation with the ferrofluid and recovering first fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process for recovering a first fluid from a porous subterranean formation which comprises injecting a displacement fluid in an effective amount to displace the first fluid, injecting a ferrofluid, applying a magnetic field containing a gradient of field intensity within said formation, driving the displacement fluid through the formation with the ferrofluid and recovering first fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the first fluid is an oil and the porous subterranean formation is an oil-bearing formation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the displacement fluid contains a surfactant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A process for recovering a first fluid from a porous subterranean formation which comprises injecting a ferrofluid containing displacement fluid in an amount effective to displace the first fluid, applying a magnetic field containing a gradient of field intensity within said formation, driving the first fluid through the formation and recovering the first fluid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A process for recovering a first fluid from a porous subterranean formation which comprises injecting a ferrofluid containing displacement fluid in an amount effective to displace the first fluid, applying a magnetic field containing a gradient of field intensity within said formation, driving the first fluid through the formation and recovering the first fluid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 or 4 wherein the first fluid is a bitumen-containing solvent stream and the subterranean formation contains tar sands.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claims 1 or 4 wherein the first fluid comprises kerogen and the porous formation is an oil shale.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claims 1 or 4 wherein the magnetic field has a strength of from 1 to 20,000 gauss.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claims 1 or 4 wherein the field intensity increases in the direction from the first fluid toward the ferrofluid fluid.
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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) | 1989-03-31 | 1989-09-30 | 1990-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-31 | 1993-09-30 | 1994-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-31 | 1997-09-30 | 1998-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |