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US3578082A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Aromaticity influencing the thermostability of micellar dispersions

Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
•
Filing: 1969-11-06
•
Granted: 1971-05-11
•
Expires: 1989-11-06
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Abstract

Abstract An improved process of recovering hydrocarbon from a hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean formation wherein a micellar dispersion comprised a hydrocarbon, surfactant and aqueous medium is injected into and displaced through the formation to recover hydrocarbon through a production means, the improvement comprising determining the temperature of the formation, mixing with the surfactant and aqueous medium a hydrocarbon having sufficient aromaticity to obtain a stable micellar dispersion at the temperature of the formation. The micellar dispersion can optionally contain cosurfactant and/or electrolyte. Such a process is especially useful to recover crude oil in a secondary or tertiary oil recovery process wherein the formation is at a temperature in excess of ambient temperature.

Inventors

  • 👤 John A Davis Jr
  • 👤 William J Kunzman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 13:19
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/584

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the formation is in excess of about 80* F.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the formation is in excess of about 150* F.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the formation is in excess of about 200* F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion contains cosurfactant
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the micellar dispersion contains electrolyte.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is a petroleum sulfonate.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 48 words
A method of increasing the thermostability range of a micellar dispersion comprised of hydrocarbon, aqueous medium, and surfactant to higher temperature ranges, the method comprising mixing with the aqueous medium and surfactant a hydrocarbon having an aromaticity sufficient to obtain a stable micellar dispersion at a higher temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the micellar dispersion contains cosurfactant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the cosurfactant is alcohol containing from one to about 20 carbon atoms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the surfactant is a petroleum sulfonate having an average equivalent weight within the range of from about 360 to about 520.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the micellar dispersion is stable at temperatures in excess of about 80* F.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the micellar dispersion is stable at temperatures in excess of about 50* F.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the micellar dispersion is stable at temperatures in excess of about 200* F.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the micellar dispersion contains electrolyte.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2041275A Cited
US3244638A Cited
US3234143A Cited
US3297084A Cited
US3330343A Cited
US3348611A Cited
US3373809A Cited
US3495660A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-05-10 1974-11-09 1975-05-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-05-10 1978-11-09 1979-05-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-05-10 1982-11-09 1983-05-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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