US4828031A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
In situ chemical stimulation of diatomite formations
Assignee: Chevron USA Inc
•
Filing: 1987-10-13
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Granted: 1989-05-09
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Expires: 2007-10-13
Abstract
Abstract An improved method of recovering oil from diatomite is described. A solvent is injected into the diatomite followed by an aqueous surface active solution. The aqueous surface active solution contains a diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent and an oil/water surface tension lowering agent. The method may be supplemented by injection of water and/or steam into the diatomite.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce W. Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:56
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing an aqueous surface solution into the diatomite formation, said aqueous surface active solution comprising (i) a diatomite/oil/ water wettability improving agent, and (ii) an oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent; and b. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
53 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing an aqueous surface solution into the diatomite formation, said aqueous surface active solution comprising (i) a diatomite/oil/ water wettability improving agent, and (ii) an oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent; and b. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the interfacial tension lowering agent is a surfactant.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing an aqueous diatomite/oil/water wettability improving agent into the diatomite formation; and, thereafter b. introducing an aqueous oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent into the diatomite formation, said interfacial tension lowering agent further comprising a surfactant; and c. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing an aqueous diatomite/oil/water wettability improving agent into the diatomite formation; and, thereafter b. introducing an aqueous oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent into the diatomite formation, said interfacial tension lowering agent further comprising a surfactant; and c. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 1 or 3 further comprising the step of first introducing a solvent into the diatomite formation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method as recited in claim 1 or 3 wherein the diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent is selected from the group consisting of: trisodiumnitrilotriacetate, sodium metasilicate, inorganic silicates, phosphates, phosphonates, organic chelating agents, aminotri (methylene phosphonic acid) pentasodium salt, aminotri (methylene phosphonic acid), and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as recited in claim 1 or 3 wherein the interfacial tension lowering agent is selected from the group consisting of: anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, ethoxylated sulfates, sulfonates, ethoxylated sulfonates, ethoxylated C 11 to C 15 alcohols, C 3 to C 10 alcohols, ethoxylated phenols, ethoxylated alcohols, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 1 or 3 wherein said wettability improving agent is aminotri (methylene phosphonic acid) pentasodium salt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as recited in claim 1 or 3 wherein said oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent is a mixture of polypropylene toluene sulfonate and an ethoxylated C 11 -C 15 secondary alcohol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as recited in claim 1 or 3 further comprising the step of introducing steam into the diatomite formation after injection of the oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method recited in claim 9 further comprising the step of injecting an electrolyte solution prior to steam-injection into the diatomite formation, said electrolyte selected from the group consisting of KCl, NaCl, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising the step of introducing a salt into said steam, said salt having a volatile cationic component and a nonvolatile anionic component.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising the step of introducing an ammonium salt into said steam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as recited in claim 1 or 3 further comprising the step of heating said diatomite formation with a radiofrequency heating device after injection of the oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 1 or 3 wherein the interfacial tension lowering agent is a mixture of a surfactant and a cosurfactant.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbons comprising: a. injecting a solvent into a subsurface diatomaceous material, said solvent selected from the group consisting of: jet fuel, petroleum naphtha, desulfurized gasoline blending stock, aromatic hydrocarbons, naphthenic hydrocarbons, 225 thinner, paraffinic hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof; and, thereafter b. injecting an aqueous surface active solution into said diatomaceous material, said surface active solution further comprising: (i) polypropylene toluene sulfonate (PPTS); (ii) a material selected from the group: trisodium nitrilotriacetate, sodium metasilicate, aminotri (methylene phosphonic acid) neutralized with KOH, (methylene phosphonic acid) pentasodium salt, and mixtures thereof; and (iii) an electrolyte; and thereafter c. injecting an aqueous saline solution into said diatomaceous material; and, thereafter d. injecting steam into said diatomaceous material; and thereafter e. producing oil from the diatomaceous material.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbons comprising: a. injecting a solvent into a subsurface diatomaceous material, said solvent selected from the group consisting of: jet fuel, petroleum naphtha, desulfurized gasoline blending stock, aromatic hydrocarbons, naphthenic hydrocarbons, 225 thinner, paraffinic hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof; and, thereafter b. injecting an aqueous surface active solution into said diatomaceous material, said surface active solution further comprising: (i) polypropylene toluene sulfonate (PPTS); (ii) a material selected from the group: trisodium nitrilotriacetate, sodium metasilicate, aminotri (methylene phosphonic acid) neutralized with KOH, (methylene phosphonic acid) pentasodium salt, and mixtures thereof; and (iii) an electrolyte; and thereafter c. injecting an aqueous saline solution into said diatomaceous material; and, thereafter d. injecting steam into said diatomaceous material; and thereafter e. producing oil from the diatomaceous material.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing a solvent into the formation; b. introducing an aqueous surface active solution into the diatomite formation, said aqueous surface active solution comprising: (i) a diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent and (ii) an oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent; and c. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing a solvent into the formation; b. introducing an aqueous surface active solution into the diatomite formation, said aqueous surface active solution comprising: (i) a diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent and (ii) an oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent; and c. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing a solvent into the formation; b. introducing an aqueous diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent into the diatomite formation; and, thereafter c. introducing an aqueous oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent into the diatomite formation; and d. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing a solvent into the formation; b. introducing an aqueous diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent into the diatomite formation; and, thereafter c. introducing an aqueous oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent into the diatomite formation; and d. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing an aqueous surface active solution into the diatomite formation, said aqueous surface active solution comprising: (i) a diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent, said wettability improving agent further comprising aminotri (methylene phosphonic acid) pentasodium salt; and (ii) an oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent; and b. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing an aqueous surface active solution into the diatomite formation, said aqueous surface active solution comprising: (i) a diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent, said wettability improving agent further comprising aminotri (methylene phosphonic acid) pentasodium salt; and (ii) an oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent; and b. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing an aqueous diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent said wettability improving agent further comprising aminotri (methylene phosphonic acid) pentasodium salt agent into the diatomite formation; and, thereafter b. introducing an aqueous oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent into the diatomite formation, said interfacial tension lowering agent further comprising a surfactant; and c. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing an aqueous diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent said wettability improving agent further comprising aminotri (methylene phosphonic acid) pentasodium salt agent into the diatomite formation; and, thereafter b. introducing an aqueous oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent into the diatomite formation, said interfacial tension lowering agent further comprising a surfactant; and c. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing an aqueous surface active solution into the diatomite formation, said aqueous surface active solution comprising: (i) a diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent and (ii) an oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent, said interfacial tension lowering agent further comprising polypropylene toluene sulfonate and an ethoxylated C 11 -C 15 secondary alcohol; and b. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing an aqueous surface active solution into the diatomite formation, said aqueous surface active solution comprising: (i) a diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent and (ii) an oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent, said interfacial tension lowering agent further comprising polypropylene toluene sulfonate and an ethoxylated C 11 -C 15 secondary alcohol; and b. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing an aqueous diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent into the diatomite formation; and, thereafter b. introducing an aqueous oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent into the diatomite formation, said interfacial tension lowering agent further comprising polypropylene toluene sulfonate and an ethoxylated C 11 -C 15 secondary alcohol; and c. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing an aqueous diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent into the diatomite formation; and, thereafter b. introducing an aqueous oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent into the diatomite formation, said interfacial tension lowering agent further comprising polypropylene toluene sulfonate and an ethoxylated C 11 -C 15 secondary alcohol; and c. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing an aqueous surface active solution into the diatomite formation, said aqueous surface active solution comprising: (i) a diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent and (ii) an oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent, said interfacial tension lowering agent further comprising a surfactant; and b. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of: a. introducing an aqueous surface active solution into the diatomite formation, said aqueous surface active solution comprising: (i) a diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent and (ii) an oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent, said interfacial tension lowering agent further comprising a surfactant; and b. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
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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) | 1992-05-08 | 1992-11-07 | 1993-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-08 | 1996-11-07 | 1997-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-08 | 2000-11-07 | 2001-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |