US3799263A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Enhancing the recovery of oil from subterranean formations
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
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Filing: 1972-07-12
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1992-07-12
Abstract
Abstract A surfactant for use in secondary and, more preferably, tertiary oil recovery operations, comprising a salt of at least one mono-, di- or tri-alkyl, 1,2-dimethylbenzene sulphonic acid. The alkyl group(s) is or are each C6 , preferably C9 to C15, most preferably about C10 to C13, the monoalkyl 1,2-dimethylbenzene sulphonate salts being preferred. The sulphonate salts may be derived from mixtures of sulphonic acids having different chain lengths of alkyl group. Although any water soluble sulphonate of the foregoing type has excellent surfactant properties for secondary and tertiary oil recovery, the preferred cations are derived from diethanolamine and triethanolamine.
Inventors
- 👤 M Prillieux
- 👤 R Tirtiaux
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:10
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/584; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/20; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said orthoxylene sulfonic acid has a single additional alkyl substituent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 2 in which said alkyl substituent has from nine to fifteen carbon atoms.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 3 in which said alkyl substituent has from ten to thirteen carbon atoms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 2 in which said orthoxylene sulfonic acid is a mixture of acids each having a single additional alkyl substituent with from six to 15 carbon atoms per alkyl substituent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 2 in which a basic compound contains an alkali metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 6 in which the alkali metal is sodium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 2 in which the alkyl substituent is branched-chain.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 2 in which said orthoxylene sulfonic acid is formed by alkylating orthoxylene with an oligomer of at least one olefin and containing at least six carbon atoms in the presence of an alkylation catalyst, separating the alkylated orthoxylene from the reaction product, and sulfonating the separated alkylated orthoxylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 9 in which the sulfonation is effected by contacting a solution of alkylated orthoxylene in liquid SO2 with SO3 at a temperature below -5*C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 9 in which the olefin oligomer is selected from C9 to C15 homopolymers and heteropolymers C2 to C6 olefins.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 11 in which the olefin oligomer is a propylene tetramer fraction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 2 in which the basic compound is selected from amines and aminoalcohols.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 13 in which the aminoalcohol is selected from diethanolamine and triethanolamine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the aqueous surfactant solution is injected into the formation by means of one well and oil is recovered from the formation through a second well.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3302713A
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US3348611A
Cited
US3373808A
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US3698479A
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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) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |