US4613631A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Crosslinked polymers for enhanced oil recovery
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1985-05-24
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Granted: 1986-09-23
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Expires: 2005-05-24
Abstract
Abstract Polymers used in enhanced oil recovery operations, including polysaccharides, polyamides and cellulose derivatives may be crosslinked by the use of organic nitrogen compounds bearing at least two positively charged nitrogen atoms. Suitable crosslinking agents include the salts of aliphatic and aromatic diamines and bis (quaternary ammonium) compounds. The crosslinked copolymers may be used for mobility and permeability control purposes. The crosslinking agents are effective over a wide range of pH conditions to form stable gel structures with the polymers.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilton F. Espenscheid, deceased
- 👤 James M. Paul
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:28
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/84; C09K8/86; C09K8/88; C09K8/887; C09K8/50; C09K8/504; C09K8/506; C09K8/508; C09K8/512; C09K8/58; C09K8/588; C09K8/90; C09K8/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
44 words
A method for crosslinking a gel-forming, water soluble polymer which comprises crosslinking the polymer with an organic compound bearing at least two positively charged nitrogen atoms in positions where they are available for forming coordinate crosslinkages with the available crosslinking sites on the polymer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
44 words
A method for crosslinking a gel-forming, water soluble polymer which comprises crosslinking the polymer with an organic compound bearing at least two positively charged nitrogen atoms in positions where they are available for forming coordinate crosslinkages with the available crosslinking sites on the polymer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the polymer is a water soluble polysaccharide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 2 in which the polysaccharide is a polysaccharide produced by the action of bacteria of the genus Xanthomonas on a carbohydrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the polymer is a polyamide or a partly hydrolyzed polyamide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the polymer is a cellulose derivative.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the polymer is an anionic polysaccharide produced by fermentation of the bacterium ATCC 31555.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the organic compound comprises a salt of an aliphatic diamine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the organic compound comprises a salt of an aromatic diamine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the organic compound comprises a bis (quaternary ammonium) compound.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the organic compound comprises the dihydrochloride salt of 4,4'-diamino-diphenyl.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of making a thickened aqueous liquid for use in enhanced oil recovery operations which comprises crosslinking a water soluble polymer in aqueous solution with an organic compound bearing at least two positively charged nitrogen atoms in positions where they are available for forming coordinate crosslinkages with the available crosslinking sites of the polymer.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of making a thickened aqueous liquid for use in enhanced oil recovery operations which comprises crosslinking a water soluble polymer in aqueous solution with an organic compound bearing at least two positively charged nitrogen atoms in positions where they are available for forming coordinate crosslinkages with the available crosslinking sites of the polymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 11 in which the polymer is a water soluble polysaccharide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 12 in which the polysaccharide is a polysaccharide produced by the action of bacteria of the genus Xanthomonas on a carbohydrate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 11 in which the polymer is an anionic polysaccharide produced by fermentation of the bacterium ATCC 31555.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 11 in which the polymer is a polyamide or a partly hydrolyzed polyamide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 11 in which the polymer is a cellulose derivative.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 11 in which the organic compound comprises a salt of an aliphatic diamine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 11 in which the organic compound comprises a salt of an aromatic diamine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 11 in which the organic compound comprises a bis (quaternary ammonium) compound.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 11 in which the organic compound comprises the dihydrochloride salt of 4,4'-diamino-diphenyl.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of controlling the permeability of a subterranean oil-bearing formation by the injection of an aqueous polymer gel into the formation through an injection well extending from the surface of the earth into the formation in which the aqueous polymer gel comprises a polymer which is crosslinked by means of a crosslinking agent comprising an organic nitrogen compound bearing at least two positively charged nitrogen atoms in positions where they are available for forming coordinate crosslinkages with the available crosslinking sites on the polymer.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of controlling the permeability of a subterranean oil-bearing formation by the injection of an aqueous polymer gel into the formation through an injection well extending from the surface of the earth into the formation in which the aqueous polymer gel comprises a polymer which is crosslinked by means of a crosslinking agent comprising an organic nitrogen compound bearing at least two positively charged nitrogen atoms in positions where they are available for forming coordinate crosslinkages with the available crosslinking sites on the polymer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 21 in which the amount of polymer in the gel is from 1,000 to 10,000 ppmw.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 22 in which the amount of polymer in the gel is from 1,000 to 5,000 ppmw.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a flooding operation for the enhanced recovery of oil by the injection of a flooding liquid into a subterranean oil-bearing formation through an injection well extending from the surface of the earth into the formation, to displace oil from the formation to a production well situated at a horizontal distance from the injection well, the improvement comprising the use of a thickened flooding liquid comprising a polymer crosslinked by means of an organic nitrogen compound bearing at least two positively charged nitrogen atoms in positions where they are available for forming coordinate crosslinkages with the available crosslinking sites on the polymer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a flooding operation for the enhanced recovery of oil by the injection of a flooding liquid into a subterranean oil-bearing formation through an injection well extending from the surface of the earth into the formation, to displace oil from the formation to a production well situated at a horizontal distance from the injection well, the improvement comprising the use of a thickened flooding liquid comprising a polymer crosslinked by means of an organic nitrogen compound bearing at least two positively charged nitrogen atoms in positions where they are available for forming coordinate crosslinkages with the available crosslinking sites on the polymer.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
20 words
A method according to 24 in which the flooding liquid comprises from 1,000 to 5,000 ppmw of the crosslinked polymer.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
20 words
A method according to 24 in which the flooding liquid comprises from 1,000 to 5,000 ppmw of the crosslinked polymer.
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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) | 1989-09-22 | 1990-03-24 | 1990-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-09-22 | 1994-03-24 | 1994-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-09-22 | 1998-03-24 | 1998-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |