Patent US4288334A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4288334A
Expired / Lapsed
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Process for secondary recovery of hydrocarbons
Assignee: Huntsman Corp
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Filing: 1980-01-17
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Granted: 1981-09-08
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Expires: 2000-01-17
Abstract
Abstract Hydrocarbons are recovered from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well by displacing hydrocarbons toward the production well using a drive fluid such as water containing dissolved therein: (a) a small amount of a nonionic surfactant of the formula RO(CH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 O) m (CH 2 CH 2 O) n H where R is alkyl or alkylaryl, n is an integer of from 1 to about 20 and m> 1, and (b) a small amount of an anionic sulfonate or sulfate surfactant. Optionally the drive fluid may be saturated with natural gas and/or carbon dioxide at the injection pressure. A polymeric thickening agent also may be included in the drive fluid, if desired.
Inventors
- 👤 David R. McCoy
- 👤 Carter G. Naylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:18
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/594; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well which comprises: (A) injecting into the formation via an injection well a drive fluid comprising water having dissolved therein: (a) from 0.05 to about 6.0 weight percent of a nonionic surfactant of the formula: RO(CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 O).sub.m (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n H, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl of from 8 to about 20 carbon atoms and ##STR13## wherein R a is branched or linear alkyl of from 6 to about 18 carbon atoms, wherein m is an integer of from 1 to about 20 and n is an integer of from 2 to about 20, and (b) about 0.03 to about 5 weight percent of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of an anionic sulfonate and an anionic sulfate surfactant, (B) forcing the said fluid through the formation, and (C) recovering hydrocarbons through the production well.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well which comprises: (A) injecting into the formation via an injection well a drive fluid comprising water having dissolved therein: (a) from 0.05 to about 6.0 weight percent of a nonionic surfactant of the formula: RO(CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 O).sub.m (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n H, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl of from 8 to about 20 carbon atoms and ##STR13## wherein R a is branched or linear alkyl of from 6 to about 18 carbon atoms, wherein m is an integer of from 1 to about 20 and n is an integer of from 2 to about 20, and (b) about 0.03 to about 5 weight percent of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of an anionic sulfonate and an anionic sulfate surfactant, (B) forcing the said fluid through the formation, and (C) recovering hydrocarbons through the production well.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein in (b) the surfactant employed is petroleum sulfonate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the said drive fluid is saturated with carbon dioxide at a pressure of about 300 to about 3000 psig.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the said drive fluid is saturated with natural gas at a pressure of about 300 to about 3000 psig.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the said drive fluid also contains about 0.01 to about 3.0 weight percent of a water-soluble polymer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the said drive fluid also contains about 0.01 to about 3.0 weight percent of polyacrylamide or partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide having a number average molecular weight of from about 10,000 to about 2,000,000.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the said drive fluid also includes dissolved therein a minor amount of a thickening agent selected from the group consisting of: (a) a terpolymer of acrylamide, vinyl sulfonic acid or the sodium, potassium or ammonium salt thereof and vinyl chloride having a number average molecular weight of about 5,000 to about 1,500,000, and (b) a terpolymer of acrylamide, vinyl sulfonic acid or the sodium, potassium or ammonium salt thereof and vinyl chloride having a number average molecular weight of about 5,000 to about 1,500,000, alkoxylated with about 2 to about 100 percent by weight of ethylene oxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
The process of claim 1 wherein in (b) the surfactant employed is a compound of the formula: R.sub.c O(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.r R.sub.d SO.sub.3 M, wherein R c is selected from the group consisting of linear or branched chain alkyl of from 8 to about 20 carbon atoms and the radical: ##STR14## wherein R e is linear or branched chain alkyl of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, R d is alkylene of from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, r is an integer of from 1 to about 14 and M is a monovalent cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and ammonium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 8 wherein R c is linear or branched chain alkyl of from 8 to about 20 carbon atoms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 8 wherein R c is the radical: ##STR15## wherein R e is linear or branched chain alkyl of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The process of claim 1 wherein in (b) the surfactant employed is a compound of the formula: ##STR16## wherein R g is linear or branched chain alkyl of from 6 to about 26 carbon atoms, s is an integer of from 2 to about 16 and M is a monovalent cation selection from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and ammonium.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-09-07 | 1985-03-09 | 1985-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-09-07 | 1989-03-09 | 1989-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-09-07 | 1993-03-09 | 1993-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |