Gas flooding with surfactants enriched in olefin disulfonate

Claim 2

A process for recovering oil from a reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, comprising: displacing within the reservoir a gas foam mixture of noncondensible gas and aqueous surfactant solution, said surfactant containing at least about 25 wt % olefin disulfonate, said olefin disulfonate derived from olefins with carbon numbers in the range of from about 16 to about 40.

Claim 3

A process for recovering oil from a reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, comprising: injecting into the reservoir a gas foam mixture of noncondensible gas and aqueous surfactant solution, said surfactant containing at least about 25 wt % olefin disulfonate, said olefin disulfonate derived from olefins with carbon numbers in the range of from about 16 to about 40; and displacing the gas foam mixture within the reservoir to assist in recovery of hydrocarbons at the production well.

Claim 4

A process for recovering oil from a reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, comprising: injecting into the reservoir a gas foam mixture of noncondensible gas and aqueous surfactant solution, said surfactant containing at least about 25 wt % olefin disulfonate, said olefin disulfonate derived from olefins with carbon numbers in the range of from about 16 to about 40; and displacing the gas foam mixture within the reservoir to assist in recovery of hydrocarbons at the production well.

Claim 5

The process of claim 2 wherein the surfactant contains at least about 30 wt % olefin disulfonate.

Claim 6

The process of claim 2 wherein the surfactant contains at least about 40 wt % olefin disulfonate.

Claim 7

The process of claim 4 wherein the surfactant contains at least about 50 wt % olefin disulfonate.

Claim 8

The process of any one of claims 2, 3, 4, or 5 wherein an electrolyte is injected in a concentration from about 0.01 wt % to about 15.0 wt % of the aqueous phase of the gas foam mixture.

Claim 9

A process for recovering oil from a reservoir through the use of a single well, comprising: injecting into the reservoir a gas foam mixture of noncondensible gas and aqueous surfactant solution, said surfactant containing at least about 25 wt % olefin disulfonate, said olefin disulfonate derived from olefins with carbon numbers in the range of from about 16 to about 40; allowing the gas foam mixture to soak in the reservoir; and producing oil from the reservoir.

Claim 10

A process for recovering oil from a reservoir through the use of a single well, comprising: injecting into the reservoir a gas foam mixture of noncondensible gas and aqueous surfactant solution, said surfactant containing at least about 25 wt % olefin disulfonate, said olefin disulfonate derived from olefins with carbon numbers in the range of from about 16 to about 40; allowing the gas foam mixture to soak in the reservoir; and producing oil from the reservoir.

Claim 11

The process of claim 7 wherein the surfactant contains at least about 30 wt % olefin disulfonate.

Claim 12

The process of claim 7 wherein the surfactant contains at least about 40 wt % olefin disulfonate.

Claim 13

The process of claim 7 wherein the surfactant contains at least about 50 wt % olefin disulfonate.

Claim 14

The process of any one of claims 7, 8, 9, or 10 wherein an electrolyte is injected in a concentration from about 0.01 wt % to about 15.0 wt % of the aqueous phase of the gas foam mixture.

Claim 15

A process for recovering oil from a reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, comprising: injecting into the reservoir an aqueous surfactant solution wherein the surfactant contains at least about 25 wt % olefin disulfonate, said olefin disulfonate derived from olefins with carbon numbers in the range of from about 16 to about 40; injecting into the reservoir a noncondensible gas; forming a gas foam mixture; and displacing the gas foam mixture within the reservoir by injecting additional noncondensible gas to assist in recovery of hydrocarbons at the production well.

Claim 16

A process for recovering oil from a reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, comprising: injecting into the reservoir an aqueous surfactant solution wherein the surfactant contains at least about 25 wt % olefin disulfonate, said olefin disulfonate derived from olefins with carbon numbers in the range of from about 16 to about 40; injecting into the reservoir a noncondensible gas; forming a gas foam mixture; and displacing the gas foam mixture within the reservoir by injecting additional noncondensible gas to assist in recovery of hydrocarbons at the production well.

Claim 17

The process of claim 12 wherein the surfactant contains at least about 30 wt % olefin disulfonate.

Claim 18

The process of claim 12 wherein the surfactant contains at least about 40 wt % olefin disulfonate.

Claim 19

The process of claim 12 wherein the surfactant contains at least about 50 wt % olefin disulfonate.

Claim 20

The process of any one of claims 12, 13, 14, or 15 wherein an electrolyte is injected in a concentration from about 0.01 wt % to about 15.0 wt % of the aqueous phase of the gas foam mixture.

Claim 21

A process for recovering oil from a reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, comprising: injecting into the reservoir a gas foam mixture, comprising: (a) aqueous surfactant solution, wherein the surfactant is present in a concentration of from about 0.05 wt % to about 5.0 wt % in the aqueous phase of the gas foam mixture, and wherein the surfactant contains at least about 40 wt % olefin disulfonate, said olefin disulfonate derived from olefins with carbon numbers in the range of from about 16 to about 40; (b) noncondensible gas, in an amount of from about 1 mol % to about 100 mol % of the gaseous phase of the gas foam mixture; and (c) electrolyte, in a concentration of from about 0.01 wt % to about 15.0 wt % of the aqueous phase of the gas foam mixture; and displacing the gas foam mixture within the reservoir to assist in recovery of oil at the production well.

Claim 22

A process for recovering oil from a reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, comprising: injecting into the reservoir a gas foam mixture, comprising: (a) aqueous surfactant solution, wherein the surfactant is present in a concentration of from about 0.05 wt % to about 5.0 wt % in the aqueous phase of the gas foam mixture, and wherein the surfactant contains at least about 40 wt % olefin disulfonate, said olefin disulfonate derived from olefins with carbon numbers in the range of from about 16 to about 40; (b) noncondensible gas, in an amount of from about 1 mol % to about 100 mol % of the gaseous phase of the gas foam mixture; and (c) electrolyte, in a concentration of from about 0.01 wt % to about 15.0 wt % of the aqueous phase of the gas foam mixture; and displacing the gas foam mixture within the reservoir to assist in recovery of oil at the production well.