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US 4,049,054 AGranted
Stable mixtures of polymers and surfactants for surfactant flooding
AssigneePhillips Petroleum Company
InventorDonald R. Wier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved fluid for surfactant flooding a subterranean oil-bearing reservoir is prepared by contacting polymer with fresh water in the substantial absence of a salt; thereafter combining the thus-formed polymer solution and a salt solution; and finally adding a surfactant.
Claims12
A method of preparing a stable surfactant waterflooding fluid comprising:
- dissolving a polymer selected from the group consisting of a high molecular weight copolymer of acrylamide or methacrylamide with an alkali metal or ammonium salt of acrylic or methacrylic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose, or a heteropolysaccharide produced by fermentation of carbohydrates by bacteria of the genus Xanthomonas in water;
- thereafter combining said thus-formed polymer solution and a solution of a salt selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride and sulfate salts in the absence of a petroleum sulfonate surfactant and mixing thoroughly;
- and
- thereafter combining said thus-formed mixture with a petroleum sulfonate surfactant and mixing until a homogeneous fluid is obtained,
- said polymer being present in an amount within the range of 0.01 to 5 weight percent based on the weight of said fluid, said salt being present in an amount within the range of 0.1 to 10 weight percent based on the weight of said fluid, and said surfactant being present in an amount within the range of 0.01 to 10 weight percent based on the weight of said fluid.
2 more elements
A process for recovering crude oil from an oil-bearing subterranean formation having at least one injection means in fluid communication with at least one production means, comprising:
- injecting into the formation a surfactant waterflooding fluid made by:
- dissolving a polymer selected from the group consisting of a high molecular weight copolymer of acrylamide and sodium acrylate, carboxymethyl cellulose, or a heteropolysaccharide produced by fermentation of carbohydrates by bacteria of the genus xanthomonas in fresh water;
- thereafter combining said thus-formed polymer solution and a solution of a salt selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride and sulfate salts in the absence of a petroleum sulfonate surfactant and mixing thoroughly;
- and
- thereafter combining said thus-formed mixture with a petroleum sulfonate surfactant and mixing until a homogeneous fluid is obtained;
- said polymer being present in an amount within the range of 0.01 to 5 weight percent based on the weight of the fluid, said salt being present in the range of 0.1 to 10 weight percent based on the weight of said fluid, and said surfactant being present in an amount within the range of 0.01 to 10 weight percent based on the weight of said fluid;
- and
- displacing said fluid toward said production means to recover said crude oil.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.