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US 2015/0175873 A1Published application
Oil recovery process, system, and composition
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorsStanley Nemec MILAM, Erik Willem TEGELAAR, John Justin FREEMAN, Richard B. TAYLOR
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Abstract
A system, composition, and process are provided for recovering oil from an oil-bearing formation. An oil recovery formulation comprising a polymer dispersed in a fluid that is at least 75 mol % dimethyl sulfide is introduced into an oil-bearing formation, and oil is produced from the formation.
Claims31
A process for recovering oil from an oil-bearing formation comprising:
- providing an oil recovery formulation that comprises a polymer dispersed in a fluid comprising at least 75 mol % dimethyl sulfide, wherein the polymer is a hydrocarbon polymer or a polymer consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and sulfur atoms, and wherein the oil recovery formulation has a dynamic viscosity of from 1 mPa·s (cP) to 5000 mPa·s (cP) at a temperature within a range of formation temperatures;
- introducing the oil recovery formulation into the oil-bearing formation;
- contacting the oil recovery formulation with oil in the formation;
- and
- producing oil from the formation after contact of the oil recovery formulation with oil in the formation.
2 more elements
A system for producing oil from an oil-bearing formation, comprising:
- an oil recovery formulation that comprises a polymer dispersed in a fluid comprising at least 75 mol % dimethyl sulfide, wherein the polymer is a hydrocarbon polymer or a polymer consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and sulfur atoms, and wherein the oil recovery formulation has a dynamic viscosity of from 1 mPa·s (cP) to 5000 mPa·s (cP) at a temperature within a range of formation temperatures;
- a first well structured and arranged to introduce the oil recovery formulation into the oil-bearing formation;
- and
- a second well located a distance from the first well, the second well being structured and arranged for producing oil from the oil-bearing formation subsequent to the introduction of the oil recovery formulation into the formation.
1 more element
A composition for use in oil recovery from an oil-bearing formation, comprising:
- a fluid comprising at least 75 mol % dimethyl sulfide;
- and
- a polymer dispersed in the fluid, wherein the polymer is selected from a hydrocarbon polymer or a polymer consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and sulfur atoms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.