# US 2022/0033706 A1 · Methods for hydrocarbon recovery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0033706 A1 - Document ID: US20220033706A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/395,933 - Filed: 2021-08-06 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-08 - Assignees: Chevron U.S.A. Inc. - Applicants: Chevron U.S.A. Inc. - Inventors: Do Hoon Kim; Dennis Arun Alexis; Varadarajan Dwarakanath; David Espinosa; Taimur Malik; Logan Jackson; Tom Lynch; Ronald Robinson; Frances Fournier; Hong Yang; Sukhjit Aujla - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220033706A1 ## CPC - C09K 8/588: characterised by the use of specific polymers {(polymeric surfactants C09K8/584)} - C09K 8/584: characterised by the use of specific surfactants - E21B 43/20: Displacing by water - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract Provided herein are liquid polymer (LP) compositions comprising a synthetic (co)polymer (e.g., an acrylamide (co)polymer), as well as methods for preparing inverted polymer solutions by inverting these LP compositions in an aqueous fluid. The resulting inverted polymer solutions can have a concentration of a synthetic (co)polymer (e.g., an acrylamide (co)polymer) of from 50 to 15,000 ppm, and a filter ratio of 1.5 or less at 15 psi using a 1.2 μm filter. Also provided are methods of using these inverted polymer solutions in oil and gas operations, including enhanced oil recovery. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for preparing an inverted polymer solution comprising providing a liquid polymer (LP) composition comprising: one or more hydrophobic liquids having a boiling point at least 100° C.; at least 39% by weight of one or more synthetic (co)polymers; one or more emulsifier surfactants; and one or more inverting surfactants; inverting the LP composition in an aqueous fluid to provide an inverted polymer solution having a concentration of synthetic (co)polymer of from 50 to 15,000 ppm; wherein the inverted polymer solution has a filter ratio of 1.5 or less at 15 psi using a 1.2 μm filter; and wherein the inverted polymer solution is used in an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the inverted polymer solution has a filter ratio of from 1.1 to 1.3 at 15 psi using the 1.2 μm filter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the inversion of the LP composition forms the inverted polymer solution in 30 minutes or less. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the inversion of the LP composition comprises a continuous process. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the inversion of the LP composition comprises a single step, and wherein the single step comprises diluting the LP composition in the aqueous fluid in an in-line mixer having a mixer inlet and a mixer outlet to provide the inverted polymer solution. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the difference in pressure between the mixer inlet and the mixer outlet is from 15 psi to 400 psi. ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the inversion of the LP composition comprises multiple steps. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the inversion of the LP composition comprises as a first step, inverting the LP composition in the aqueous fluid in a first in-line mixer having a first mixer inlet and a first mixer outlet to provide a concentrated polymer composition having a concentration of synthetic (co)polymer of up to 15,000 ppm; and as a second step, diluting the concentrated polymer composition in the aqueous fluid in a second in-line mixer having a second mixer inlet and a second mixer outlet to provide the inverted polymer solution. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the difference in pressure between the first mixer inlet and the first mixer outlet is from 15 psi to 400 psi. ### Claim 11 (canceled) ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the difference in pressure between the second mixer inlet and the second mixer outlet is from 15 psi to 400 psi. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the aqueous fluid comprises soft brine or hard brine. ### Claim 14 (canceled) ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the aqueous fluid further comprises a surfactant, an alkalinity agent, a co-solvent, a chelating agent, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the inversion of the LP composition comprises parallel single steps, parallel multiple steps, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the parallel single steps, parallel multiple steps, or any combination thereof include using at least one in-line mixer for diluting the LP composition in the aqueous fluid, the in-line mixer having a mixer inlet and a mixer outlet to provide the inverted polymer solution. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the difference in pressure between the mixer inlet and the mixer outlet is from 15 psi to 400 psi. ### Claim 19 (canceled) ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more synthetic (co)polymers comprise one or more acrylamide (co)polymers. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the inverted polymer solution is used as an injection fluid. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the inverted polymer solution is included in an injection fluid. ### Claim 23 (canceled) ### Claim 24 A method for preparing an inverted polymer solution comprising providing a liquid polymer (LP) composition in the form of an inverse emulsion comprising: one or more hydrophobic liquids having a boiling point at least 100° C.; up to 35% by weight of one or more synthetic (co)polymers; one or more emulsifier surfactants; and one or more inverting surfactants; inverting the LP composition in an aqueous fluid to provide an inverted polymer solution having a concentration of synthetic (co)polymer of from 50 to 15,000 ppm; wherein the inverted polymer solution has a filter ratio of 1.5 or less at 15 psi using a 1.2 μm filter; and wherein the inverted polymer solution is used in an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operation. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A method for hydrocarbon recovery, comprising: (a) providing a subsurface reservoir containing hydrocarbons there within; (b) providing a wellbore in fluid communication with the subsurface reservoir; (c) preparing an inverted polymer solution according to the method of claim 1; and (d) injecting the inverted polymer solution through the wellbore into the subsurface reservoir.