US3476184A - Method of designing a soluble oil slug for an oil recovery process - Google Patents
Method of designing a soluble oil slug for an oil recovery process Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3476184A US3476184A US773304A US3476184DA US3476184A US 3476184 A US3476184 A US 3476184A US 773304 A US773304 A US 773304A US 3476184D A US3476184D A US 3476184DA US 3476184 A US3476184 A US 3476184A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- micellar solution
- micellar
- water
- slug
- oil
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title description 20
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 title description 11
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 77
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 53
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 17
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 17
- 230000037230 mobility Effects 0.000 description 14
- 239000003208 petroleum Substances 0.000 description 14
- 239000004094 surface-active agent Substances 0.000 description 13
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 12
- -1 fatty alcohol amine sulfonates Chemical class 0.000 description 11
- KFZMGEQAYNKOFK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Isopropanol Chemical compound CC(C)O KFZMGEQAYNKOFK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 9
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 9
- 235000019198 oils Nutrition 0.000 description 9
- IGFHQQFPSIBGKE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 4-nonylphenol Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCC1=CC=C(O)C=C1 IGFHQQFPSIBGKE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 7
- 125000002877 alkyl aryl group Chemical group 0.000 description 7
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 7
- BDHFUVZGWQCTTF-UHFFFAOYSA-M sulfonate Chemical compound [O-]S(=O)=O BDHFUVZGWQCTTF-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 7
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 description 6
- HEMHJVSKTPXQMS-UHFFFAOYSA-M Sodium hydroxide Chemical compound [OH-].[Na+] HEMHJVSKTPXQMS-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 6
- 239000003792 electrolyte Substances 0.000 description 6
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 6
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 6
- LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethanol Chemical compound CCO LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 5
- 150000001298 alcohols Chemical class 0.000 description 4
- 239000010779 crude oil Substances 0.000 description 4
- 150000002148 esters Chemical class 0.000 description 4
- ZSIAUFGUXNUGDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N hexan-1-ol Chemical compound CCCCCCO ZSIAUFGUXNUGDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- QNVRIHYSUZMSGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N hexan-2-ol Chemical compound CCCCC(C)O QNVRIHYSUZMSGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 150000003871 sulfonates Chemical class 0.000 description 4
- 241000237858 Gastropoda Species 0.000 description 3
- OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Methanol Chemical compound OC OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000012736 aqueous medium Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 150000002894 organic compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 229910052708 sodium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000011734 sodium Substances 0.000 description 3
- KBPLFHHGFOOTCA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1-Octanol Chemical compound CCCCCCCCO KBPLFHHGFOOTCA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- QNVRIHYSUZMSGM-LURJTMIESA-N 2-Hexanol Natural products CCCC[C@H](C)O QNVRIHYSUZMSGM-LURJTMIESA-N 0.000 description 2
- LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethylene glycol Chemical compound OCCO LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrochloric acid Chemical compound Cl VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M Ilexoside XXIX Chemical compound C[C@@H]1CC[C@@]2(CC[C@@]3(C(=CC[C@H]4[C@]3(CC[C@@H]5[C@@]4(CC[C@@H](C5(C)C)OS(=O)(=O)[O-])C)C)[C@@H]2[C@]1(C)O)C)C(=O)O[C@H]6[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O6)CO)O)O)O.[Na+] DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M 0.000 description 2
- 239000002202 Polyethylene glycol Substances 0.000 description 2
- ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Potassium Chemical compound [K] ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- FAPWRFPIFSIZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-M Sodium chloride Chemical compound [Na+].[Cl-] FAPWRFPIFSIZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 2
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfuric acid Chemical compound OS(O)(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- DKGAVHZHDRPRBM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Tert-Butanol Chemical compound CC(C)(C)O DKGAVHZHDRPRBM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 235000014113 dietary fatty acids Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000839 emulsion Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000194 fatty acid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229930195729 fatty acid Natural products 0.000 description 2
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000007529 inorganic bases Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- ZXEKIIBDNHEJCQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N isobutanol Chemical compound CC(C)CO ZXEKIIBDNHEJCQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000002609 medium Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000007522 mineralic acids Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- QQZOPKMRPOGIEB-UHFFFAOYSA-N n-butyl methyl ketone Natural products CCCCC(C)=O QQZOPKMRPOGIEB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- SJWFXCIHNDVPSH-UHFFFAOYSA-N octan-2-ol Chemical compound CCCCCCC(C)O SJWFXCIHNDVPSH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229920001223 polyethylene glycol Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229910052700 potassium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000011591 potassium Substances 0.000 description 2
- VWDWKYIASSYTQR-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium nitrate Chemical compound [Na+].[O-][N+]([O-])=O VWDWKYIASSYTQR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- JNYAEWCLZODPBN-JGWLITMVSA-N (2r,3r,4s)-2-[(1r)-1,2-dihydroxyethyl]oxolane-3,4-diol Chemical class OC[C@@H](O)[C@H]1OC[C@H](O)[C@H]1O JNYAEWCLZODPBN-JGWLITMVSA-N 0.000 description 1
- WRIDQFICGBMAFQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N (E)-8-Octadecenoic acid Natural products CCCCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCC(O)=O WRIDQFICGBMAFQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- IIZPXYDJLKNOIY-JXPKJXOSSA-N 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC[C@H](COP([O-])(=O)OCC[N+](C)(C)C)OC(=O)CCC\C=C/C\C=C/C\C=C/C\C=C/CCCCC IIZPXYDJLKNOIY-JXPKJXOSSA-N 0.000 description 1
- POAOYUHQDCAZBD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-butoxyethanol Chemical compound CCCCOCCO POAOYUHQDCAZBD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 125000003504 2-oxazolinyl group Chemical class O1C(=NCC1)* 0.000 description 1
- LQJBNNIYVWPHFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 20:1omega9c fatty acid Natural products CCCCCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCC(O)=O LQJBNNIYVWPHFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- TXPKUUXHNFRBPS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 3-(2-carboxyethylamino)propanoic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)CCNCCC(O)=O TXPKUUXHNFRBPS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- QSBYPNXLFMSGKH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 9-Heptadecensaeure Natural products CCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCC(O)=O QSBYPNXLFMSGKH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-O Ammonium Chemical compound [NH4+] QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-O 0.000 description 1
- VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-M Chloride anion Chemical compound [Cl-] VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- KCXVZYZYPLLWCC-UHFFFAOYSA-N EDTA Chemical compound OC(=O)CN(CC(O)=O)CCN(CC(O)=O)CC(O)=O KCXVZYZYPLLWCC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- IAYPIBMASNFSPL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethylene oxide Chemical compound C1CO1 IAYPIBMASNFSPL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000005642 Oleic acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- ZQPPMHVWECSIRJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Oleic acid Natural products CCCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCC(O)=O ZQPPMHVWECSIRJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- GOOHAUXETOMSMM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Propylene oxide Chemical compound CC1CO1 GOOHAUXETOMSMM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000801924 Sena Species 0.000 description 1
- PMZURENOXWZQFD-UHFFFAOYSA-L Sodium Sulfate Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O PMZURENOXWZQFD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- DBMJMQXJHONAFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-M Sodium laurylsulphate Chemical compound [Na+].CCCCCCCCCCCCOS([O-])(=O)=O DBMJMQXJHONAFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- IJCWFDPJFXGQBN-RYNSOKOISA-N [(2R)-2-[(2R,3R,4S)-4-hydroxy-3-octadecanoyloxyoxolan-2-yl]-2-octadecanoyloxyethyl] octadecanoate Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC[C@@H](OC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC)[C@H]1OC[C@H](O)[C@H]1OC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC IJCWFDPJFXGQBN-RYNSOKOISA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008186 active pharmaceutical agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000008055 alkyl aryl sulfonates Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000001408 amides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000003863 ammonium salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000000844 anti-bacterial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003899 bactericide agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012267 brine Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000004432 carbon atom Chemical group C* 0.000 description 1
- 150000001768 cations Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000004581 coalescence Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000001896 cresols Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004069 differentiation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003085 diluting agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012153 distilled water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229960001484 edetic acid Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 150000004665 fatty acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002334 glycols Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002209 hydrophobic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- WGCNASOHLSPBMP-UHFFFAOYSA-N hydroxyacetaldehyde Natural products OCC=O WGCNASOHLSPBMP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003112 inhibitor Substances 0.000 description 1
- QXJSBBXBKPUZAA-UHFFFAOYSA-N isooleic acid Natural products CCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCCC(O)=O QXJSBBXBKPUZAA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000002576 ketones Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 235000010445 lecithin Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000787 lecithin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940067606 lecithin Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 239000003915 liquefied petroleum gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000693 micelle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004530 micro-emulsion Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000007524 organic acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 235000005985 organic acids Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 150000007530 organic bases Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229920000151 polyglycol Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000010695 polyglycol Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011780 sodium chloride Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019333 sodium laurylsulphate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000004317 sodium nitrate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000010344 sodium nitrate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 159000000000 sodium salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052938 sodium sulfate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000011152 sodium sulphate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- JHJUUEHSAZXEEO-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium;4-dodecylbenzenesulfonate Chemical compound [Na+].CCCCCCCCCCCCC1=CC=C(S([O-])(=O)=O)C=C1 JHJUUEHSAZXEEO-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- HPALAKNZSZLMCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium;chloride;hydrate Chemical compound O.[Na+].[Cl-] HPALAKNZSZLMCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000011078 sorbitan tristearate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000001589 sorbitan tristearate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229960004129 sorbitan tristearate Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 238000001179 sorption measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010408 sweeping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 125000002889 tridecyl group Chemical group [H]C([*])([H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])[H] 0.000 description 1
- 235000015112 vegetable and seed oil Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000008158 vegetable oil Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
- C09K8/58—Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids
- C09K8/584—Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids characterised by the use of specific surfactants
Definitions
- micellar solution is useful as flooding mediums, to displace crude petroleum in subterranean formations. Examples of such systems are taught in US. Patents Nos. 3,275,075, 3,254,714, and 3,261,399.
- Micellar systems of the past are generally designed to be either hydrophilic or oleophilic. The characteristics of the recovery processes within the formation are directly dependent upon the micellar solution characteristic, i.e. an oleophilic system tends to act more miscible with the crude oil in place whereas a hydrophilic system tends to act more miscible with the interstitial water in place.
- the percent recovery of crude oil in secondary-type recovery processes can be improved by injecting as the primary oil displacing medium a micellar solution slug having a relatively small hydrophilicy in the front portion of the slug and a relatively large hydrophilicy in the back portion of the slug.
- relatively small hydrophilicy and relatively large hydrophilicy define the degree of water capable of being incorporated by the primary oil displacing medium, e.g., the character of the micellar solution to take up water.
- micellar solution can be displaced through the formation by any compatible displacement fluid; for
- the thickened water drive can have graded mobilities from a low at the micellar solution juncture to a high at the water drive.
- the mobility of the front portion of the displacement fluid can be less than the mobility of the micellar solution and the average mobility of the displacement fluid between that of the micellar solution and that of the water drive. Examples of water drives are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,261,399.
- micellar solution as used herein is meant to include microemulsions [Schulman and Montague, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 92, pages 366-371 (1961)], oleotopathic hydro-micelles [Hear and Schulman, Nature, 152, page 102 (1943)], transparent emulsions (Blair, Jr. et al., US. Patent No. 2,356,205), micellar dispersions, and micellar solutions defined in US. Patents Nos. 3,254,714; 3,275,075; 3,301,325; and 3,307,628. Micellar solutions differ from emulsions in many ways, one of the strongest differentiations being that the former tend toward further dispersion of the internal phase rather than toward coalescence of this phase.
- the micellar solution is composed essentially of hydrocarbon, aqueous medium, and surfactant suflicient to impart micellar solution characteristics to the mixture.
- hydrocarbon include crude oil, straight-run gasoline such as lower hydrocarbon fractions, crude column overheads, and liquefied petroleum gases.
- the aqueous medium is preferably water but can be brine or salty water and can contain corrosion inhibitors, bactericides, etc.
- Useful sufactants are listed in US. Patent No. 3,254,- 714 and preferably are alkyl aryl sulfonates, more commonly known as petroleum sulfonates or as alkyl aryl naphthenic sulfonates. Examples of useful petroleum sulfonates can be identified by the empirical formula C H SO M wherein n is an integer from about 20 to about 30 and M is a monovalent cation such as sodium, potassium, ammonium, etc.
- Examples of useful surfactants which are more hydrophilic include dodecylbenzene sodium sulfonate, sodium laurylsulfate, fatty alcohol amine sulfonates, sorbitan tristearate, water soluble sodium sulfonates, partial sodium salt of n-lauryl beta iminodipropionate, condensate of ethylene oxide with hydrophobic base of propylene oxide and glycol, ethylene diamine tetracetic acid, and alkyl aryl polyethyleneoxy esters.
- the more hydrophilic sulfonates can be incorporated into the back portion of the micellar solution to increase the hydrophilicy.
- surfactants which are more oleophilic include alkylphenol ethoxylate, bis (tridecyl) ester of sodium sulfonsuccinic acid, substituted oxazoline, sorbitan partial'fatty acids, natural lecithin, nonylphenol polyglycol ether alcohol, long'bliaifi'fatty acid esters of glycols, polyoxyethylated vegetable oils, polyethylene glycol oleic acid ester, nonylphenyl polyethylene glycol ester, etc. These surfactants are useful in the front portion of the micellar solution to impart a less hydrophilic character.
- the micellar solution can contain a semipolar compound (co-surfactant or co-solubilizer) such as ketones, esters, amides, and alcohols containing from 1 up to 20 or more carbon atoms.
- a semipolar compound co-surfactant or co-solubilizer
- the semi-polar compounds can be divided into two classes, i.e. hydrophilic HUM/M13 and oleophilic.
- the semi-polar compounds are alcohols.
- hydrophilic alcohols include methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, nand isobutanol, and tertiary butanol.
- oleophilic alcohols include the amyl alcohols, hexyl alcohols (e.g. 1- and 2-hexanol, 1- and 2- octanol), decyl alcohols, cresols, and p-nonyl phenol.
- Electrolytes are also useful within the micellar solutions. Such are defined as inorganic bases, inorganic acids, inorganic salts, organic bases, organic acids, and organic salts. Examples of useful electrolytes can be found in US Patents Nos. 3,297,084 and 3,330,343. Preferably, the electrolytes are inorganic acids, inorganic bases, and inorganic salts and are substantially water soluble. Preferred examples of electrolytes include sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, sodium nitrate, and similar potassium and ammonium salts.
- the micellar solutions consist of five components, i.e. hydrocarbon, aqueous medium, surfactant, electrolyte, and semi-polar organic compound.
- the micellar solution is characterized as having a relatively small hydrophilicy in the front portion thereof and a relatively large hydrophilicy in the back portion thereof.
- the micellar solution can have a graded sorption zone from a minimum water uptake (i.e. relatively small hydrophilicy) in the front portion thereof to a maximum water uptake (i.e. relatively large hydrophilicy) in the back portion thereof. This can be accomplished by continuously grading the micellar solution as it is injected into the subterranean formation or can be eifected by injecting a series of micellar slugs wherein each slug is graded accordingly.
- Characterizing the micellar solution from a relatively small hydrophilicy to a relatively large hydrophilicy throughout the solution can be effected by incorporating into the front portion an alkyl aryl naphthenic sulfonate having a molecular weight within the range of from about 440 up to about 520 (these molecular weights are less hydrophilic) and decreasing the molecular weight to the back portion of the micellar solution to a sulfonate having a molecular weight range of from about 360 up to about 460 (these molecular Weights are more hydrophilic). Molecular weights below about 360 are also useful within the back portion of the micellar solution.
- the molecular weights within the mid-portion of the micellar solution can be within the range of from about 400 up to about 500 and preferably within a proportionate range of the high and the low molecular weight ranges of the micellar solution.
- micellar solution slug can also be graded from a relatively small hydrophilicy in the front portion thereof to a relatively large hydrophilicy in the back portion thereof by incorporating a more oleophilic semi-polar organic compound in the front portion and a more hydrophilic or oleophobic semi-polar compound in the back portion of the slug.
- a more oleophilic semi-polar organic compound in the front portion and a more hydrophilic or oleophobic semi-polar compound in the back portion of the slug.
- An example of such a system would be p-nonyl phenol incorporated in the front portion and isopropanol incorporated in the back portion of the micellar solution.
- such a solution can have a semi-polar organic compound which is somewhat oleophilic and somewhat hydrophilic in the mid-portion of the micellar solution, e.g.
- tertiary butanol amyl alcohols and 1- and 2- hexanol.
- semi-polar compounds which can form a graded slug, from front to rear are, in sequence, p-nonyl phenol, l-hexanol, and isopropanol.
- the mobility of the front portion of the micellar solution can be about equal to or less than that of the crude petroleum or preferably about that of the combination of crude petroleum and interstitial water in the formation. Also, the mobilities at the interfaces of the crude petroleum and the micellar solution, the micellar solution and a subsequent thickened water drive, and the juncture of the thickened water drive and any subsequent Water drive can be about equal to protect against fingering.
- micellar solution can be incrementally increased in mobility from a low at the formation fluids, i.e. crude petroleum and interstitial water, to a high at the subsequent drive material, e.g. thickened water drive.
- the thickened water drive can have an average mobility between that of the micellar solution and that of the water drive. Also, the thickened water drive can have graded mobilities from a low at the micellar solution and thickened water drive juncture to a high at the thickened water drive and water drive juncture. Preferably, the front portion of the thickened water drive has a mobility about equal to or less than that of the micellar solution.
- micellar solution Normally, from about 1 up to about 20% of the formation pore volume of micellar solution is desirable to effect good oil recoveries and more preferably from about 3% up to about 10%.
- the amount of thickened water drive can vary from about 5% up to about 75% and preferably should be Within the range of from about 10% to about 50%, the percents based on pore volume of the formation.
- the micellar solution can be divided into two or more parts to effect the graded characteristic, however, the combined total of parts should be within the above-identified percents of pore volume.
- micellar solution compositions the thickened Water composition
- percentages of the compositions the operating conditions, etc. Rather, it is intended that all equivalents obvious to those skilled in the art be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the specification and appended claims. Percents, unless otherwise specified, are based on volume.
- Example 1 Berea cores 47.5 inches long by 2 inches in diameter are cleaned to remove hydrocarbon and water, subjected to a vacuum to remove gas, flooded with water treated from the Henry lease in Illinois, (hereinafter identified as Henry plant Water, and contains about 9,700 p.p.m. chloride and 17,000 p.p.m. of total dissolved solids), flooded with Henry crude (an Illinois basin crude having an API gravity of about 36.4 and a viscosity of about 7 cps.) and are then flooded with Henry plant water to irreducible Water. Thereafter, micellar solutions defined in Table I are injected into the core samples.
- Henry plant Water an Illinois basin crude having an API gravity of about 36.4 and a viscosity of about 7 cps.
- Electrolyte Sodium Hydroxide.
- micellar solution The slugs of micellar solution are followed by a thickened water drive composed of Water treated from the Georgia water reservoir in Georgia, Illinois (containing 500 p.p.m. of dissolved solids), 800 p.p.m. of 530 Pusher (sold by and a trademark of Dow Chemical Com- TABLE II 6 about 440 to about 520 and the back portion of the micellar solution contains alkyl aryl naphthenic sulfonate having a molecular weight within the range of from about 360 to about 460.
- a thickened water drive composed of Water treated from the Georgia water reservoir in Georgia (containing 500 p.p.m. of dissolved solids), 800 p.p.m. of 530 Pusher (sold by and a trademark of Dow Chemical Com- TABLE II 6 about 440 to about 520 and the back portion of the micellar solution contains alkyl aryl naphthenic sulfonate having a molecular weight within the range of from about 360 to about 460.
- Samples 3 and 4 (combination of oleophilic and hydrophilic slugs) compared to Sample 1 (oleophilic slug) and Sample 2 (hydrophilic slug) indicate the advantages of this invention.
- Sample 6 compared to Samples 1 and 5 also supports the novelty of the invention.
- a process for the recovery of crude petroleum from subterranean formations wherein a micellar solution is injected into and driven through the formation to displace crude petroleum comprising injecting into the formation a micellar solution having a relatively small hydrophilicy in the front portion of the micellar solution and a relatively large hydrophilicy in the back portion of the micellar solution.
- micellar solution contains relatively oleophilic surfactant and the back portion of the micellar solution contains relatively hydrophilic surfactant.
- micellar solution contains alkyl aryl naphthenic sulfonate having a molecular weight within the range of from about 440 to about 520 and the back portion of the micellar solution contains alkyl aryl naphthenic sulfonate having a molecular weight within the range of from about 360 to about 460.
- micellar solution contains oleophilic semi-polar compound and the back portion of the micellar solution contains hydrophilic semi-polar compound.
- micellar solution is graded from front to rear with surfactant decreasing in oleophilicy from front to rear.
- micellar solution is graded from front to rear with semi-polar compound decreasing in oleophilicy from front to rear.
- micellar solution characterized as having a relatively small hydrophilicy in the front portion of the micellar solution and a relatively large hydrophilicy in the back portion of the micellar solution
- micellar solution contains oleophilic surfactant and the back portion of the micellar solution contains hydrophilic surfactant.
- micellar solution contains alkyl aryl naphthenic sulfonate having a molecular weight within the range of from 10.
- micellar solution is characterized as being graded from front to rear with surfactant decreasing in oleophilicy from front to rear.
- micellar solution contains oleophilic semi-polar compound and the back portion of the micellar solution contains hydrophilic semi-polar compound.
- micellar solution is graded from front to rear by semi-polar compound decreasing in oleophilicy from front to rear.
- micellar solution contains oleophilic alcohol and the back portion of the micellar solution contains hydrophilic alcohol.
- the thickened water drive is characterized as having graded mobilities from a low at the micellar solution and thickened water drive juncture to a high at the thickened water drive and water drive juncture.
- micellar solution has a mobility about equal to or less than that of the combination of crude petroleum and interstitial water in the formation.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
Description
O l'a ilioslic United States Patent US. Cl. 166-273 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Micellar solutions having a relatively small hydrophilicy in the front portion thereof and a relatively large hydrophilicy at the back portion thereof are injected into and displaced through a subterranean formation to a production means in a secondary-type recovery process to displace crude petroleum therefrom.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPDICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending US. patent application Ser. No. 671,978, filed Oct. 2, 1967 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Micellar solutions are useful as flooding mediums, to displace crude petroleum in subterranean formations. Examples of such systems are taught in US. Patents Nos. 3,275,075, 3,254,714, and 3,261,399. Micellar systems of the past are generally designed to be either hydrophilic or oleophilic. The characteristics of the recovery processes within the formation are directly dependent upon the micellar solution characteristic, i.e. an oleophilic system tends to act more miscible with the crude oil in place whereas a hydrophilic system tends to act more miscible with the interstitial water in place.
If the sands within the formation, especially waterwet sands are contrasted to oil-wet sands, could be preferentially Wetted with an oleophilic fluid, more efficient sweeping of the formation fluids could be realized. Also, such a system would result in higher recovery yields of residual oil in place.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Applicants have discovered that the percent recovery of crude oil in secondary-type recovery processes (includes any process wherein artificial means are used to displace the oil, e.g. tertialy recovery) can be improved by injecting as the primary oil displacing medium a micellar solution slug having a relatively small hydrophilicy in the front portion of the slug and a relatively large hydrophilicy in the back portion of the slug. The terms relatively small hydrophilicy and relatively large hydrophilicy define the degree of water capable of being incorporated by the primary oil displacing medium, e.g., the character of the micellar solution to take up water.
The micellar solution can be displaced through the formation by any compatible displacement fluid; for
il-n IHVUE ll 3,476,184 Patented Nov. 4, 1969 example, by a thickened water drive or by a combination of a thickened Water drive and a water drive. The thickened water drive can have graded mobilities from a low at the micellar solution juncture to a high at the water drive. However, the mobility of the front portion of the displacement fluid can be less than the mobility of the micellar solution and the average mobility of the displacement fluid between that of the micellar solution and that of the water drive. Examples of water drives are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,261,399.
The primary oil displacing mediums useful with this invention are preferably oil external micellar solutions. The term micellar solution as used herein is meant to include microemulsions [Schulman and Montague, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 92, pages 366-371 (1961)], oleotopathic hydro-micelles [Hear and Schulman, Nature, 152, page 102 (1943)], transparent emulsions (Blair, Jr. et al., US. Patent No. 2,356,205), micellar dispersions, and micellar solutions defined in US. Patents Nos. 3,254,714; 3,275,075; 3,301,325; and 3,307,628. Micellar solutions differ from emulsions in many ways, one of the strongest differentiations being that the former tend toward further dispersion of the internal phase rather than toward coalescence of this phase.
The micellar solution is composed essentially of hydrocarbon, aqueous medium, and surfactant suflicient to impart micellar solution characteristics to the mixture. Examples of hydrocarbon include crude oil, straight-run gasoline such as lower hydrocarbon fractions, crude column overheads, and liquefied petroleum gases. The aqueous medium is preferably water but can be brine or salty water and can contain corrosion inhibitors, bactericides, etc. Useful sufactants are listed in US. Patent No. 3,254,- 714 and preferably are alkyl aryl sulfonates, more commonly known as petroleum sulfonates or as alkyl aryl naphthenic sulfonates. Examples of useful petroleum sulfonates can be identified by the empirical formula C H SO M wherein n is an integer from about 20 to about 30 and M is a monovalent cation such as sodium, potassium, ammonium, etc.
Examples of useful surfactants which are more hydrophilic include dodecylbenzene sodium sulfonate, sodium laurylsulfate, fatty alcohol amine sulfonates, sorbitan tristearate, water soluble sodium sulfonates, partial sodium salt of n-lauryl beta iminodipropionate, condensate of ethylene oxide with hydrophobic base of propylene oxide and glycol, ethylene diamine tetracetic acid, and alkyl aryl polyethyleneoxy esters. The more hydrophilic sulfonates can be incorporated into the back portion of the micellar solution to increase the hydrophilicy.
Examples of surfactants which are more oleophilic include alkylphenol ethoxylate, bis (tridecyl) ester of sodium sulfonsuccinic acid, substituted oxazoline, sorbitan partial'fatty acids, natural lecithin, nonylphenol polyglycol ether alcohol, long'bliaifi'fatty acid esters of glycols, polyoxyethylated vegetable oils, polyethylene glycol oleic acid ester, nonylphenyl polyethylene glycol ester, etc. These surfactants are useful in the front portion of the micellar solution to impart a less hydrophilic character.
In addition, the micellar solution can contain a semipolar compound (co-surfactant or co-solubilizer) such as ketones, esters, amides, and alcohols containing from 1 up to 20 or more carbon atoms. The semi-polar compounds can be divided into two classes, i.e. hydrophilic HUM/M13 and oleophilic. Preferably, the semi-polar compounds are alcohols. Examples of hydrophilic alcohols include methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, nand isobutanol, and tertiary butanol. Examples of oleophilic alcohols include the amyl alcohols, hexyl alcohols (e.g. 1- and 2-hexanol, 1- and 2- octanol), decyl alcohols, cresols, and p-nonyl phenol.
Electrolytes are also useful within the micellar solutions. Such are defined as inorganic bases, inorganic acids, inorganic salts, organic bases, organic acids, and organic salts. Examples of useful electrolytes can be found in US Patents Nos. 3,297,084 and 3,330,343. Preferably, the electrolytes are inorganic acids, inorganic bases, and inorganic salts and are substantially water soluble. Preferred examples of electrolytes include sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, sodium nitrate, and similar potassium and ammonium salts.
Preferably, the micellar solutions consist of five components, i.e. hydrocarbon, aqueous medium, surfactant, electrolyte, and semi-polar organic compound. As mentioned earlier, the micellar solution is characterized as having a relatively small hydrophilicy in the front portion thereof and a relatively large hydrophilicy in the back portion thereof. Also, it is contemplated that the micellar solution can have a graded sorption zone from a minimum water uptake (i.e. relatively small hydrophilicy) in the front portion thereof to a maximum water uptake (i.e. relatively large hydrophilicy) in the back portion thereof. This can be accomplished by continuously grading the micellar solution as it is injected into the subterranean formation or can be eifected by injecting a series of micellar slugs wherein each slug is graded accordingly.
Characterizing the micellar solution from a relatively small hydrophilicy to a relatively large hydrophilicy throughout the solution can be effected by incorporating into the front portion an alkyl aryl naphthenic sulfonate having a molecular weight within the range of from about 440 up to about 520 (these molecular weights are less hydrophilic) and decreasing the molecular weight to the back portion of the micellar solution to a sulfonate having a molecular weight range of from about 360 up to about 460 (these molecular Weights are more hydrophilic). Molecular weights below about 360 are also useful within the back portion of the micellar solution. The molecular weights within the mid-portion of the micellar solution can be within the range of from about 400 up to about 500 and preferably within a proportionate range of the high and the low molecular weight ranges of the micellar solution.
The micellar solution slug can also be graded from a relatively small hydrophilicy in the front portion thereof to a relatively large hydrophilicy in the back portion thereof by incorporating a more oleophilic semi-polar organic compound in the front portion and a more hydrophilic or oleophobic semi-polar compound in the back portion of the slug. An example of such a system would be p-nonyl phenol incorporated in the front portion and isopropanol incorporated in the back portion of the micellar solution. Also, such a solution can have a semi-polar organic compound which is somewhat oleophilic and somewhat hydrophilic in the mid-portion of the micellar solution, e.g. tertiary butanol, amyl alcohols and 1- and 2- hexanol. Examples of semi-polar compounds which can form a graded slug, from front to rear are, in sequence, p-nonyl phenol, l-hexanol, and isopropanol.
The mobility of the front portion of the micellar solution can be about equal to or less than that of the crude petroleum or preferably about that of the combination of crude petroleum and interstitial water in the formation. Also, the mobilities at the interfaces of the crude petroleum and the micellar solution, the micellar solution and a subsequent thickened water drive, and the juncture of the thickened water drive and any subsequent Water drive can be about equal to protect against fingering.
Also, the micellar solution can be incrementally increased in mobility from a low at the formation fluids, i.e. crude petroleum and interstitial water, to a high at the subsequent drive material, e.g. thickened water drive.
The thickened water drive can have an average mobility between that of the micellar solution and that of the water drive. Also, the thickened water drive can have graded mobilities from a low at the micellar solution and thickened water drive juncture to a high at the thickened water drive and water drive juncture. Preferably, the front portion of the thickened water drive has a mobility about equal to or less than that of the micellar solution.
Normally, from about 1 up to about 20% of the formation pore volume of micellar solution is desirable to effect good oil recoveries and more preferably from about 3% up to about 10%. The amount of thickened water drive can vary from about 5% up to about 75% and preferably should be Within the range of from about 10% to about 50%, the percents based on pore volume of the formation. As mentioned earlier, the micellar solution can be divided into two or more parts to effect the graded characteristic, however, the combined total of parts should be within the above-identified percents of pore volume.
The following example is presented to illustrate a specific working embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the micellar solution compositions, the thickened Water composition, the percentages of the compositions, the operating conditions, etc. Rather, it is intended that all equivalents obvious to those skilled in the art be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the specification and appended claims. Percents, unless otherwise specified, are based on volume.
Example 1 Berea cores 47.5 inches long by 2 inches in diameter are cleaned to remove hydrocarbon and water, subjected to a vacuum to remove gas, flooded with water treated from the Henry lease in Illinois, (hereinafter identified as Henry plant Water, and contains about 9,700 p.p.m. chloride and 17,000 p.p.m. of total dissolved solids), flooded with Henry crude (an Illinois basin crude having an API gravity of about 36.4 and a viscosity of about 7 cps.) and are then flooded with Henry plant water to irreducible Water. Thereafter, micellar solutions defined in Table I are injected into the core samples.
TABLE I.MICELLAR SOLUTION COMPOSITIONS slug Slug slug on (0190- (hydro- (hydrophilic) philic) philic) Component percent percent percent Hydrocarbon:
Crude Column Overhead. 68. 06 56. 11
Henry Crude 27. 4
Aqueous Diluent:
Henry Plant Water Palestine Water Distilled Water. Surfactant:
Ammonium Alkyl aryl Naphthenic Sulfonate l 12. 72 1 10. 45 1 6. 7 Alconox 2 Semi-polar Compound:
Isopropyl Alcohol 1. 41 1. 43 0. 74 Nonyl Phenol 0 27 0. 56
Electrolyte: Sodium Hydroxide.
The slugs of micellar solution are followed by a thickened water drive composed of Water treated from the Palestine water reservoir in Palestine, Illinois (containing 500 p.p.m. of dissolved solids), 800 p.p.m. of 530 Pusher (sold by and a trademark of Dow Chemical Com- TABLE II 6 about 440 to about 520 and the back portion of the micellar solution contains alkyl aryl naphthenic sulfonate having a molecular weight within the range of from about 360 to about 460.
Core Characteristics Micellar Solution Crude Oil Recovery Perme- Oil Satu- Percent ability Porosity ration after Composi- Slug Size, Oil in (md.) (percent) Waterflood tion Type percent PV Place Percent Improvement 158 18. 2 1.371 A 60.4 87 17. 9 0. 364 B 63. O 78 16. 4 0.362 A/B 2 5 of A, then 83.1 Over Sample l=37.5.
2.6 of B. Over Sample 1=32.0. 82 17.3 0.368 A/B 2.5 of A, then 78.2 Over Sample 1=29.5.
3.75 of B. Over Sample 2=24.1. 98 18.2 0. 378 O 5.37 48. 8 164 19.3 0. 352 A/C 2.5 of A, then 66. 1 Over Sample 1=9.4.
2 5 of C. Over Sample 5=35.5.
Samples 3 and 4 (combination of oleophilic and hydrophilic slugs) compared to Sample 1 (oleophilic slug) and Sample 2 (hydrophilic slug) indicate the advantages of this invention. Sample 6 compared to Samples 1 and 5 also supports the novelty of the invention.
What is claimed is:
1. A process for the recovery of crude petroleum from subterranean formations wherein a micellar solution is injected into and driven through the formation to displace crude petroleum, the process comprising injecting into the formation a micellar solution having a relatively small hydrophilicy in the front portion of the micellar solution and a relatively large hydrophilicy in the back portion of the micellar solution.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein the front portion of the micellar solution contains relatively oleophilic surfactant and the back portion of the micellar solution contains relatively hydrophilic surfactant.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein the front portion of the micellar solution contains alkyl aryl naphthenic sulfonate having a molecular weight within the range of from about 440 to about 520 and the back portion of the micellar solution contains alkyl aryl naphthenic sulfonate having a molecular weight within the range of from about 360 to about 460.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein the front portion of the micellar solution contains oleophilic semi-polar compound and the back portion of the micellar solution contains hydrophilic semi-polar compound.
5. The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar solution is graded from front to rear with surfactant decreasing in oleophilicy from front to rear.
6. The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar solution is graded from front to rear with semi-polar compound decreasing in oleophilicy from front to rear.
7. A process for the recovery of crude petroleum from subterranean formations wherein fluids are injected into the formation through at least one injection means to displace the crude petroleum toward at least one production means, the successive injection steps comprising:
(1) a micellar solution characterized as having a relatively small hydrophilicy in the front portion of the micellar solution and a relatively large hydrophilicy in the back portion of the micellar solution,
(2) a thickened water drive, and
(3) a water drive in an amount sufficient to displace a micellar solution and a thickened water drive toward at least one production means and recovering crude petroleum therefrom.
8. The process of claim 7 wherein the front portion of the micellar solution contains oleophilic surfactant and the back portion of the micellar solution contains hydrophilic surfactant.
9. The process of claim 7 wherein the front portion of the micellar solution contains alkyl aryl naphthenic sulfonate having a molecular weight within the range of from 10. The process of claim 7 wherein the micellar solution is characterized as being graded from front to rear with surfactant decreasing in oleophilicy from front to rear.
11. The process of claim 7 wherein the front portion of the micellar solution contains oleophilic semi-polar compound and the back portion of the micellar solution contains hydrophilic semi-polar compound.
12. The process of claim 7 wherein the micellar solution is graded from front to rear by semi-polar compound decreasing in oleophilicy from front to rear.
13. The process of claim 7 wherein the front portion of the micellar solution contains oleophilic alcohol and the back portion of the micellar solution contains hydrophilic alcohol.
14. The process of claim 7 wherein the thickened water drive is characterized as having an average mobility between that of the micellar solution and that of the water drive.
15. The process of claim 7 wherein the thickened water drive is characterized as having graded mobilities from a low at the micellar solution and thickened water drive juncture to a high at the thickened water drive and water drive juncture.
16. The process of claim 7 wherein the micellar solution has a mobility about equal to or less than that of the combination of crude petroleum and interstitial water in the formation.
17. The process of claim 7 wherein the front portion of the thickened water drive has a mobility about equal to or less than that of the micellar solution.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,254,714 6/1966 Gogarty et al. 166-9 3,261,399 7/ 1966 Coppel 166-9 3,275,075 9/1966 Gogarty et al. 166-9 3,297,084- 1/1967 Gogarty et al. 166-9 3,301,325 1/ 1967 Gogarty et al. 166-9 3,307,628 3/1967 Sena 166-9 3,330,343 7/ 1967 Tosch et al. 166-9 3,348,611 10/ 1967 Reisberg 166-9 3,373,809 3/ 1968 Cooke 166-9 3,376,925 4/ 1968 Coppel 166-9 3,406,754 10/ 1968 Gogarty 166-9 STEPHEN J. NOVOSAD, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 166-275
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US77330468A | 1968-11-04 | 1968-11-04 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US3476184A true US3476184A (en) | 1969-11-04 |
Family
ID=25097820
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US773304A Expired - Lifetime US3476184A (en) | 1968-11-04 | 1968-11-04 | Method of designing a soluble oil slug for an oil recovery process |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3476184A (en) |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3643738A (en) * | 1970-05-28 | 1972-02-22 | Marathon Oil Co | Wettability control in an oil recovery process |
| US3670819A (en) * | 1970-05-18 | 1972-06-20 | Amoco Prod Co | Process for treatment of water injection wells |
| US3882938A (en) * | 1972-07-17 | 1975-05-13 | Union Oil Co | Process for recovering oil from heterogeneous reservoirs |
| US4074759A (en) * | 1976-09-20 | 1978-02-21 | Texaco Inc. | Oil recovery process using a polymer slug with tapered surfactant concentration |
| US4100966A (en) * | 1976-09-20 | 1978-07-18 | Texaco Inc. | Oil recovery process using an emulsion slug with tapered surfactant concentration |
| US4415034A (en) * | 1982-05-03 | 1983-11-15 | Cities Service Company | Electrode well completion |
| US4433730A (en) | 1981-03-30 | 1984-02-28 | Standard Oil Company | Optimum grading of chemical concentrations in a micellar flood |
| US20130098467A1 (en) * | 2010-12-20 | 2013-04-25 | Intevep, S.A. | Method for improving the flow conditions in pipes that have been used for transporting heavy or extra-heavy crudes or crudes with high asphaltene content |
Citations (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3254714A (en) * | 1965-11-05 | 1966-06-07 | Marathon Oil Co | Use of microemulsions in miscible-type oil recovery procedure |
| US3261399A (en) * | 1963-06-19 | 1966-07-19 | Marathon Oil Co | Process utilizing the combination of miscible and thickened floods in petroleum recovery |
| US3275075A (en) * | 1965-04-27 | 1966-09-27 | Marathon Oil Co | Viscosity control in petroleum recovery |
| US3297084A (en) * | 1963-09-09 | 1967-01-10 | Marathon Oil Co | Miscible flood viscosity control through ph regulation |
| US3301325A (en) * | 1965-11-05 | 1967-01-31 | Marathon Oil Co | Petroleum recovery materials and process |
| US3307628A (en) * | 1966-04-06 | 1967-03-07 | Marathon Oil Co | Process for secondary recovery of petroleum using stabilized microemulsions |
| US3330343A (en) * | 1963-09-09 | 1967-07-11 | Marathon Oil Co | Viscosity control in miscible floods |
| US3348611A (en) * | 1965-07-09 | 1967-10-24 | Shell Oil Co | Surfactants for oil recovery by waterfloods |
| US3373809A (en) * | 1965-11-15 | 1968-03-19 | Exxon Production Research Co | Microemulsion oil recovery process |
| US3376925A (en) * | 1963-11-18 | 1968-04-09 | Marathon Oil Co | Process for the use of emulsions in petroleum recovery |
| US3406754A (en) * | 1967-06-19 | 1968-10-22 | Marathon Oil Co | Petroleum production utilizing miscibletype and thickened slugs |
-
1968
- 1968-11-04 US US773304A patent/US3476184A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3261399A (en) * | 1963-06-19 | 1966-07-19 | Marathon Oil Co | Process utilizing the combination of miscible and thickened floods in petroleum recovery |
| US3297084A (en) * | 1963-09-09 | 1967-01-10 | Marathon Oil Co | Miscible flood viscosity control through ph regulation |
| US3330343A (en) * | 1963-09-09 | 1967-07-11 | Marathon Oil Co | Viscosity control in miscible floods |
| US3376925A (en) * | 1963-11-18 | 1968-04-09 | Marathon Oil Co | Process for the use of emulsions in petroleum recovery |
| US3275075A (en) * | 1965-04-27 | 1966-09-27 | Marathon Oil Co | Viscosity control in petroleum recovery |
| US3348611A (en) * | 1965-07-09 | 1967-10-24 | Shell Oil Co | Surfactants for oil recovery by waterfloods |
| US3254714A (en) * | 1965-11-05 | 1966-06-07 | Marathon Oil Co | Use of microemulsions in miscible-type oil recovery procedure |
| US3301325A (en) * | 1965-11-05 | 1967-01-31 | Marathon Oil Co | Petroleum recovery materials and process |
| US3373809A (en) * | 1965-11-15 | 1968-03-19 | Exxon Production Research Co | Microemulsion oil recovery process |
| US3307628A (en) * | 1966-04-06 | 1967-03-07 | Marathon Oil Co | Process for secondary recovery of petroleum using stabilized microemulsions |
| US3406754A (en) * | 1967-06-19 | 1968-10-22 | Marathon Oil Co | Petroleum production utilizing miscibletype and thickened slugs |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3670819A (en) * | 1970-05-18 | 1972-06-20 | Amoco Prod Co | Process for treatment of water injection wells |
| US3643738A (en) * | 1970-05-28 | 1972-02-22 | Marathon Oil Co | Wettability control in an oil recovery process |
| US3882938A (en) * | 1972-07-17 | 1975-05-13 | Union Oil Co | Process for recovering oil from heterogeneous reservoirs |
| US4074759A (en) * | 1976-09-20 | 1978-02-21 | Texaco Inc. | Oil recovery process using a polymer slug with tapered surfactant concentration |
| US4100966A (en) * | 1976-09-20 | 1978-07-18 | Texaco Inc. | Oil recovery process using an emulsion slug with tapered surfactant concentration |
| US4433730A (en) | 1981-03-30 | 1984-02-28 | Standard Oil Company | Optimum grading of chemical concentrations in a micellar flood |
| US4415034A (en) * | 1982-05-03 | 1983-11-15 | Cities Service Company | Electrode well completion |
| US20130098467A1 (en) * | 2010-12-20 | 2013-04-25 | Intevep, S.A. | Method for improving the flow conditions in pipes that have been used for transporting heavy or extra-heavy crudes or crudes with high asphaltene content |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US3506070A (en) | Use of water-external micellar dispersions in oil recovery | |
| US3406754A (en) | Petroleum production utilizing miscibletype and thickened slugs | |
| US3827497A (en) | Oil recovery process using aqueous surfactant compositions | |
| US3497006A (en) | High water content oil-external micellar dispersions | |
| US4125156A (en) | Aqueous surfactant systems for in situ multiphase microemulsion formation | |
| US3482631A (en) | Secondary recovery process utilizing a pre-slug prior to a displacing fluid | |
| US4269271A (en) | Emulsion oil recovery process usable in high temperature, high salinity formations | |
| US3670819A (en) | Process for treatment of water injection wells | |
| US3506071A (en) | Use of water-external micellar dispersions in oil recovery | |
| RU2690986C2 (en) | Extraction of oil using surfactants when using esters of sulphonate and alcohol and cationic surfactants | |
| US3638728A (en) | Secondary oil recovery process with incremental injection of surfactant slugs | |
| US3536136A (en) | Oil recovery process with cosurfactant influencing the thermostability of micellar dispersions | |
| US3599715A (en) | Use of surfactant foam for recovery of petroleum | |
| US3467187A (en) | Stability of a secondary-type crude petroleum recovery system | |
| US3493051A (en) | Increasing the efficiency of crude oil recovery using micellar dispersions | |
| US3938591A (en) | Intermediate fluid systems for long distance oil displacement | |
| US3476184A (en) | Method of designing a soluble oil slug for an oil recovery process | |
| RU2478777C1 (en) | Viscoelastic composition with improved viscosity | |
| US3507331A (en) | Stability of a secondary-type recovery process | |
| US3714062A (en) | Straight chain sulfonates for use in solubilized oil-water solutions for miscible waterflooding | |
| US3740343A (en) | High water content oil-external micellar dispersions | |
| US3520365A (en) | Stability of a secondary-type recovery process | |
| US3613786A (en) | Oil recovery method using high water content oil-external micellar dispersions | |
| US3520366A (en) | Imparting in situ stability to displacing fluids | |
| US3324944A (en) | Miscible oil recovery process |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS | Assignment |
Owner name: MARATHON OIL COMPANY, AN OH CORP Free format text: ASSIGNS THE ENTIRE INTEREST IN ALL PATENTS AS OF JULY 10,1982 EXCEPT PATENT NOS. 3,783,944 AND 4,260,291. ASSIGNOR ASSIGNS A FIFTY PERCENT INTEREST IN SAID TWO PATENTS AS OF JULY 10,1982;ASSIGNOR:MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004172/0421 Effective date: 19830420 |