US3653437A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Viscous surfactant waterflooding
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
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Filing: 1970-05-25
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Granted: 1972-04-04
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Expires: 1990-05-25
Abstract
Abstract A method of recovering oil from a subterranean formation using an aqueous surfactant solution with a predetermined and controlled viscosity. The ability of the surfactant to impart viscosity to the aqueous solution is dependent upon the ratio of water-insoluble/pentane-insoluble sulfonates. This ratio must be maintained within the range of 0.01 to 0.30 to produce a surfactant with desirable oil-recovery properties. The ratio can be maintained within this range and varied in value to change the viscosity-imparting properties of the surfactant by adjusting the process reaction conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter W Gale
- 👤 Milton O Denekas
- 👤 Stanley J Storfer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:31
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/584
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
25 words
A method as defined by claim 1 further comprising adding viscosity increasing agent to the surfactant solution to further increase the viscosity of the solution.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined by claim 1 wherein the concentration of the pentane-insoluble sulfonate in the aqueous solution is about 2 weight percent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as defined by claim 1 wherein the surfactant solution exhibits non-Newtonian fluid behavior.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as defined by claim 4 wherein the non-Newtonian fluid behavior is pseudo-plastic and thixotropic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined by claim 1 wherein the volume of the surfactant solution is about 30 percent of the reservoir pore volume within the area to be swept by the surfactant solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined by claim 6 wherein the surfactant solution and the second aqueous solution containing the viscosity increasing agent are displaced through the formation By a third aqueous solution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined by claim 1 wherein the surfactant solution is displaced through the formation by a second aqueous solution containing a viscosity increasing agent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
An improved method for recovering oil from a subterranean oil bearing formation by displacing the oil with an aqueous solution of a sulfonated hydrocarbon surfactant and recovering oil from the formation in which the improvement comprises determining a viscosity level for the aqueous surfactant solution to effectively displace the oil and injecting into the formation an aqueous solution of the sulfonated hydrocarbon surfactant having a water-insoluble/pentane-insoluble sulfonate ratio within the range of 0.01 to 0.30 by weight and at a ratio within the range sufficient to impart the determined viscosity to the surfactant solution.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation comprising injecting into the formation an aqueous solution of a sulfonated hydrocarbon surfactant having a water-insoluble/pentane-insoluble sulfonate ratio within the range of 0.01 to 0.30 by weight and at a ratio in the range to produce a mobility ratio between the oil and surfactant solution which approaches 1.0, displacing the surfactant solution through the formation and recovering oil from the formation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-04 | 1975-10-04 | 1976-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-04 | 1979-10-04 | 1980-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-04 | 1983-10-04 | 1984-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |