Secondary recovery process utilizing sulfonated polyphenols
AssigneeTexaco Development Corporation
InventorWalter D. Hunter
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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 containing a small amount of a water-soluble, sulfonated, ethoxylated polyphenol, forcing the said fluid through the formation and recovering hydrocarbons through a production well. The fluids employed may, if desired, contain an alkaline agent such as sodium hydroxide.
Claims9
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well which comprises:
- (a) injecting into the formation via an injection well a driving fluid comprising water having dissolved therein about 0.01 to about 2.0 weight percent of a water-soluble sulfonated, ethoxylated polyphenol,
- (b) forcing the said fluid through the formation, and
- (c) recovering hydrocarbons through the production well, wherein the said water-soluble, sulfonated, ethoxylated polyphenol comprises recurring A-type units of the formula:
- ##STR6## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected straight chain alkyl groups of 1 to 3 inclusive carbon atoms, n is an integer of from 3 to about 30, and M is a cation selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, ammonium, sodium and potassium, and recurring B-type units of the formula:
- ##STR7## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 have the same meaning as previously described and wherein in the said sulfonated, ethoxylated polyphenol the weight percent of A-type units ranges from about 20 to about 60 with the balance being B-type units, and wherein the number average molecular weight of the said water-soluble, sulfonated, ethoxylated polyphenol is from about 5000 to about 250,000.
A fluid comprising water having dissolved therein about 0.01 to about 2.00 weight percent of a water-soluble, sulfonated, ethoxylated polyphenol comprises recurring A-type units of the formula:
- ##STR8## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected straight chain alkyl groups of 1 to 3 inclusive carbon atoms, n is an integer of from 3 to about 30, and M is a cation selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, ammonium, sodium and potassium, and recurring B-type units of the formula:
- ##STR9## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 have the same meaning as previously described and wherein in the said sulfonated, ethoxylated polyphenol the weight percent of A-type units ranges from about 20 to about 60 with the balance being B-type units.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.