Secondary recovery process utilizing water saturated with gas
AssigneeTexaco Inc.
InventorJoseph C. Allen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Hydrocarbons are recovered from subterranean formations by injecting into a hydrocarbon bearing formation via an injection well a fluid comprising water saturated with a gas such as natural gas, carbon dioxide, etc., forcing the said fluid through the formation and recovering hydrocarbons through a production well.
Claims14
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injecting well and a production well which comprises:
- a. injecting into the formation via an injection well a fluid comprising water saturated at the injection pressure with a gas selected from the groups consisting of natural gas, carbon dioxide, ammonia, flue gas, and mixtures thereof, and containing a minor amount of a solubilizing agent selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formula:
- R(OR').sub.a OH (A)
- wherein R is selected from the group consisting of:
- ##STR8## R' is alkylene of from 2 to 5 carbon atoms and a is an integer of from about 5 to about 50,
- R(OC.sub.3 H.sub.6).sub.b --(OC.sub.2 H.sub.4).sub.c (B)
- wherein R has the same meaning as previously described, b is an integer of from about 3 to about 20, c is an integer of from about 10 to about 50 and wherein the sum of b plus c is not more than about 60, and ##STR9## wherein R' has the same meaning as previously described and d is an integer of from about 5 to about 50,
- b. forcing the said fluid through the formation, and
- c. recovering hydrocarbons through the production well.
A fluid comprising water-saturated with a gas selected from the group consisting of natural gas, carbon dioxide, ammonia, flue gas and mixtures thereof containing a minor amount of a solubilizing agent selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formula:
- R(OR').sub.a OH (A)
- wherein R is selected from the group consisting of:
- ##STR13## R' is alkylene of from 2 to 5 carbon atoms and a is an integer of from about 5 to about 50,
- R(OC.sub.3 H.sub.6).sub.b (OC.sub.2 H 4).sub.c (B)
- wherein R has the same meaning as previously described, b is an integer of from about 3 to about 20, c is an integer of from about 10 to about 50 and wherein the sum of b plus c is not more than about 60, and ##STR14## wherein R' has the same meaning as previously described and d is an integer of from about 5 to about 50.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.