Patent US4736795A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4736795A
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Composition and process for enhanced oil recovery
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1987-03-24
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Granted: 1988-04-12
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Expires: 2007-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A process for recovering crude oil from a subterranean formation comprising injecting into the formation a liquid composition consisting essentially of a specific surfactant in an aqueous medium and injecting a gas to urge the composition toward a production well. The surfactant has the general formula RCH 2 CH═C(R)CH 2 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) m X, wherein R is C 3 -C 8 alkyl, m is an integer from 1 to 10, and X is a sulfonate, sulfate, glyceryl sulfonate, or carboxylate anion neutralized by a sodium, potassium, or ammonium cation.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence J. Karas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:22
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/594; C09K8/584; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935; Y10S507/936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A process for recovering crude oil from a subterranean formation having at least one injection means in fluid communication with at least one production means comprising: (a) injecting into said formation a liquid composition consisting essentially of at least one surfactant selected from surfactants having a formula RCH 2 CH═C(R)CH 2 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) m X, wherein R is C 3 -C 8 alkyl, m is an integer from 1 to 10, and X is a sulfonate, sulfate, glyceryl sulfonate, or carboxylate anion neutralized by a sodium, potassium, or ammonium cation and an aqueous medium; (b) injecting a gas to urge said composition toward said production means, provided that the said surfactant is present in an amount effective to reduce the mobility of said gas through said formation; and (c) recovering crude oil from said formation through said production means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A process for recovering crude oil from a subterranean formation having at least one injection means in fluid communication with at least one production means comprising: (a) injecting into said formation a liquid composition consisting essentially of at least one surfactant selected from surfactants having a formula RCH 2 CH═C(R)CH 2 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) m X, wherein R is C 3 -C 8 alkyl, m is an integer from 1 to 10, and X is a sulfonate, sulfate, glyceryl sulfonate, or carboxylate anion neutralized by a sodium, potassium, or ammonium cation and an aqueous medium; (b) injecting a gas to urge said composition toward said production means, provided that the said surfactant is present in an amount effective to reduce the mobility of said gas through said formation; and (c) recovering crude oil from said formation through said production means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said gas is selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, propane, natural gas, nitrogen, air, combustion flue gas, carbon dioxide, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is a branched olefin ethoxy glyceryl sulfonate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said surfactant is a glyceryl sulfonate derivative of 2-hexyl-2,3-decenoxyl hexaethylene glycol.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1991-04-12 | 1991-10-12 | 1992-04-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-04-12 | 1995-10-12 | 1996-04-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-04-12 | 1999-10-12 | 2000-04-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |