US4540050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of improving conformance in steam floods with steam foaming agents
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1984-08-08
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Granted: 1985-09-10
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Expires: 2004-08-08
Abstract
Abstract The disclosed invention is a group of steam foaming agents for injection with steam and a non-condensable gas to decrease permeability in steam swept zones and increase oil recovery. The foaming agents have the general formula: RO(R'O).sub.n R"SO.sub.3 M where R is an alkyl radical, branched or linear, or an alkylbenzene, alkyltoluene or alkylxylene group, having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, R' is ethyl, propyl or a mixture of ethyl and propyl, n has an average value of about 1 to about 20, R" is ethyl, propyl, hydroxypropyl or butyl and M is an alkali metal or ammonium ion.
Inventors
- 👤 Wann-Sheng Huang
- 👤 Zean Z. Gassmann
- 👤 Jeffrey T. Hawkins
- 👤 Vernon H. Schievelbein
- 👤 Wilbur L. Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:37
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/592; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well producing a water cut of at 90%, which comprises: injecting steam into an injection well; injecting into the injection well a mixture of steam, about 0.01 to about 5 thousand standard cubic feet of a non-condensable gas per barrel of steam in the injected mixture and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a foaming agent based upon the weight of the steam in the injected mixture, said foaming agent represented by the formula, RO(R'O).sub.n R"SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+, where R is an alkyl radical, branched or linear, or an alkylbenzene, alkyltoluene or alkylxylene group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, R' is ethyl, propyl or a mixture of ethyl and propyl, n has an average value of about 1 to about 20, R" is ethyl, propyl, hydroxypropyl or butyl, and M + is an alkali metal or ammonium ion; injecting steam into said injection well; and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from a well.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well producing a water cut of at 90%, which comprises: injecting steam into an injection well; injecting into the injection well a mixture of steam, about 0.01 to about 5 thousand standard cubic feet of a non-condensable gas per barrel of steam in the injected mixture and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a foaming agent based upon the weight of the steam in the injected mixture, said foaming agent represented by the formula, RO(R'O).sub.n R"SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+, where R is an alkyl radical, branched or linear, or an alkylbenzene, alkyltoluene or alkylxylene group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, R' is ethyl, propyl or a mixture of ethyl and propyl, n has an average value of about 1 to about 20, R" is ethyl, propyl, hydroxypropyl or butyl, and M + is an alkali metal or ammonium ion; injecting steam into said injection well; and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from a well.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 for recovering hydrocarbons, wherein said mixture is injected into a steam override zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 1 for recovering hydrocarbons, wherein R is an alkyl radical having about 16 to about 18 carbon atoms, R' is ethyl, n has an average value of about 4, R" is propyl and M + is sodium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 1 for recovering hydrocarbons, wherein R is an alkyl radical having about 16 to about 20 carbon atoms, R' is ethyl, n has an average value of about 3, R" is propyl and M + is sodium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 1 for recovering hydrocarbons, wherein R is an alkyl radical having about 12 to about 14 carbon atoms, R' is ethyl, n has an average value of about 2 to about 4, R" is propyl and M + is sodium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 for recovering hydrocarbons, wherein the concentration of said foaming agent in steam is increased as the steam injection rate is increased.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 for recovering hydrocarbons, wherein the non-condensable gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, air, methane, ethane and flue gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 for recovering hydrocarbons, wherein said mixture is injected into an injection well near the beginning of steam injection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 for recovering hydrocarbons, wherein said mixture is injected into an injection well immediately prior to steam breakthrough at a production well.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 for recovering hydrocarbons, wherein said mixture is injected into an injection well after steam breakthrough at a production well.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 1 for recovering hydrocarbons, wherein the non-condensable gas is injected at a rate of about 0.01 to about 1.5 thousand standard cubic feet per barrel of steam in the injected mixture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
178 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well producing a water cut of at 90%, which comprises: injecting into an injection well a mixture of steam, about 0.01 to about 5 thousand standard cubic feet of a non-condensable gas per barrel of steam in the injected mixture and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a foaming agent based upon the weight of the steam in the injected mixture, said foaming agent represented by the formula, RO(R'O).sub.n R"SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+, where R is an alkyl radical, branched or linear, or an alkylbenzene, alkyltoluene or alkylxylene group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, R' is ethyl, propyl or a mixture of ethyl and propyl, n has an average value of about 1 to about 20, R" is ethyl, propyl, hydroxypropyl or butyl, and M + is an alkali metal or ammonium ion; injecting steam into said injection well; and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from a well.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
178 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well producing a water cut of at 90%, which comprises: injecting into an injection well a mixture of steam, about 0.01 to about 5 thousand standard cubic feet of a non-condensable gas per barrel of steam in the injected mixture and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a foaming agent based upon the weight of the steam in the injected mixture, said foaming agent represented by the formula, RO(R'O).sub.n R"SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+, where R is an alkyl radical, branched or linear, or an alkylbenzene, alkyltoluene or alkylxylene group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, R' is ethyl, propyl or a mixture of ethyl and propyl, n has an average value of about 1 to about 20, R" is ethyl, propyl, hydroxypropyl or butyl, and M + is an alkali metal or ammonium ion; injecting steam into said injection well; and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from a well.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises: injecting steam into an injection well; injecting into said injection well a mixture of steam, about 0.01 to about 1.5 thousand standard cubic feet of nitrogen per barrel of steam in the injected mixture and about 0.02% to about 1.5% by weight of a foaming agent based upon the weight of the steam in the injected mixture, said foaming agent represented by the formula ##STR2## injecting steam into said injection well; and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from a well.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
105 words
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises: injecting steam into an injection well; injecting into said injection well a mixture of steam, about 0.01 to about 1.5 thousand standard cubic feet of nitrogen per barrel of steam in the injected mixture and about 0.02% to about 1.5% by weight of a foaming agent based upon the weight of the steam in the injected mixture, said foaming agent represented by the formula ##STR2## injecting steam into said injection well; and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from a well.
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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) | 1988-09-09 | 1989-03-11 | 1989-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-09 | 1993-03-11 | 1993-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-09 | 1997-03-11 | 1997-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |