US4248301A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Micellar crude oil displacement with partitioned hydrocarbon sulfonates
Assignee: BP Corp North America Inc
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Filing: 1979-01-02
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Granted: 1981-02-03
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Expires: 1999-01-02
Abstract
Abstract Micellar crude oil displacement efficiency is improved by partitioning the hydrocarbon sulfonate surfactants used in the formulation of micellar fluids between aqueous and oleic phases of a separation liquid and using the portion which is partitioned into the oleic phase in the formulation of the micellar fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred E. Suffridge
- 👤 Victor J. Kremesec, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:46
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/584
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of displacing crude oil through a crude oil containing subterranean reservoir having an injection means in fluid communication through the reservoir with a production means, which comprises: injecting a saline aqueous micellar fluid containing a hydrocarbon sulfonate surfactant in an amount greater than the critical micelle concentration into the reservoir through such an injection means, wherein an aqueous solution of said hydrocarbon sulfonate is homogenenously dispersed in a separation liquid comprising an oleic solvent in which an oil soluble portion of the sulfonate is substantially soluble and a water soluble portion is substantially insoluble and wherein the oil soluble portion of the hydrocarbon sulfonate surfactant partitioned into said solvent is the surfactant contained in the saline aqueous micellar fluid, and the saline aqueous micellar fluid is displaced through at least a portion of the reservoir for displacing crude oil toward such a production means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of displacing crude oil through a crude oil containing subterranean reservoir having an injection means in fluid communication through the reservoir with a production means, which comprises: injecting a saline aqueous micellar fluid containing a hydrocarbon sulfonate surfactant in an amount greater than the critical micelle concentration into the reservoir through such an injection means, wherein an aqueous solution of said hydrocarbon sulfonate is homogenenously dispersed in a separation liquid comprising an oleic solvent in which an oil soluble portion of the sulfonate is substantially soluble and a water soluble portion is substantially insoluble and wherein the oil soluble portion of the hydrocarbon sulfonate surfactant partitioned into said solvent is the surfactant contained in the saline aqueous micellar fluid, and the saline aqueous micellar fluid is displaced through at least a portion of the reservoir for displacing crude oil toward such a production means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
117 words
In a method of improving the displacement of crude oil through a crude oil containing subterranean reservoir having an injection means in fluid communication through the reservoir with a production means, wherein a saline aqueous micellar fluid containing hydrocarbon sulfonate surfactant in an amount greater than the critical micelle concentration is injected into the reservoir through said injection means and is displaced through at least a portion of the reservoir for displacing crude oil toward said production means, and wherein said hydrocarbon sulfonate surfactant comprises oil and water soluble components, wherein the improvement comprises: separating oil soluble components from substantially water soluble components of said hydrocarbon sulfonate, and formulating said micellar fluid with said oil soluble components.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
In a method of improving the displacement of crude oil through a crude oil containing subterranean reservoir having an injection means in fluid communication through the reservoir with a production means, wherein a saline aqueous micellar fluid containing hydrocarbon sulfonate surfactant in an amount greater than the critical micelle concentration is injected into the reservoir through said injection means and is displaced through at least a portion of the reservoir for displacing crude oil toward said production means, and wherein said hydrocarbon sulfonate surfactant comprises oil and water soluble components, wherein the improvement comprises: separating oil soluble components from substantially water soluble components of said hydrocarbon sulfonate, and formulating said micellar fluid with said oil soluble components.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a method of displacing crude oil through a crude oil containing subterranean reservoir having an injection means in fluid communication through the reservoir with a production mans, wherein a saline aqueous micellar fluid containing hydrocarbon sulfonate surfactant in an amount greater than the critical micelle concentration is injected into the reservoir through said injection means and is displaced through at least a portion of the reservoir for displacing crude oil toward said production means, wherein the improvement comprises: partitioning said surfactant into aqueous and oleic phases of a separation liquid comprising an oleic solvent in which an oil soluble portion of the sulfonate is substantially soluble and a water soluble portion is substantially insoluble, determining the crude oil displacement efficiency of said micellar fluid containing said surfactant and said micellar fluid containing a portion of said partitioned surfactant and, formulating said micellar fluid with surfactant which exhibits the highest crude oil displacement efficiency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a method of displacing crude oil through a crude oil containing subterranean reservoir having an injection means in fluid communication through the reservoir with a production mans, wherein a saline aqueous micellar fluid containing hydrocarbon sulfonate surfactant in an amount greater than the critical micelle concentration is injected into the reservoir through said injection means and is displaced through at least a portion of the reservoir for displacing crude oil toward said production means, wherein the improvement comprises: partitioning said surfactant into aqueous and oleic phases of a separation liquid comprising an oleic solvent in which an oil soluble portion of the sulfonate is substantially soluble and a water soluble portion is substantially insoluble, determining the crude oil displacement efficiency of said micellar fluid containing said surfactant and said micellar fluid containing a portion of said partitioned surfactant and, formulating said micellar fluid with surfactant which exhibits the highest crude oil displacement efficiency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said separation liquid comprises aqueous alcohol as said aqueous phase and chloroform as said oleic phase.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a method of displacing crude oil through a crude oil containing subterranean reservoir having an injection means in fluid communication through the reservoir with a production means, wherein a saline aqueous micellar fluid containing hydrocarbon sulfonate surfactant in an amount greater than the critical micelle concentration is injected into the reservoir through said injection means and is displaced through at least a portion of the reservoir for displacing curde oil toward said production means, wherein the improvement comprises: partitioning said surfactant into a separation liquid comprising aqueous alcohol and chloroform, and formulating said micellar fluid with surfactant which is partitioned into the chloroform.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a method of displacing crude oil through a crude oil containing subterranean reservoir having an injection means in fluid communication through the reservoir with a production means, wherein a saline aqueous micellar fluid containing hydrocarbon sulfonate surfactant in an amount greater than the critical micelle concentration is injected into the reservoir through said injection means and is displaced through at least a portion of the reservoir for displacing curde oil toward said production means, wherein the improvement comprises: partitioning said surfactant into a separation liquid comprising aqueous alcohol and chloroform, and formulating said micellar fluid with surfactant which is partitioned into the chloroform.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 4 or 5 wherein said aqueous alcohol comprises water and ethyl alcohol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 4 or 5 wherein said aqueous alcohol comprises about 50 percent by volume water and about 50 percent by volume ethyl alcohol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 4 or 5 wherein said surfactant is partitioned into a separation liquid comprising about 50 to about 70 percent by volume aqueous alcohol and about 30 to about 50 percent by volume chloroform.
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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) | 1984-02-03 | 1984-08-04 | 1985-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-03 | 1988-08-04 | 1989-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-03 | 1992-08-04 | 1993-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |