# US 4,395,341 A · Use of metronidazole in oil recovery

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- Number: US 4,395,341 A
- Document ID: US4395341A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/300,092
- Filed: 1981-09-08
- Granted: 1983-07-26
- Earliest claimed: 1977-07-21
- Assignees: G. D. Searle & Co.
- Inventors: Robert D. Muir
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4395341A

## CPC

- C09K 8/605: {containing biocides}
- Y10S 507/92: Biocidal
- Y10S 507/936: Flooding the formation
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

The invention relates to the use of metronidazole as an improved bactericidal agent in flooding waters used in oil recovery operations.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In a process of oil recovery characterized by the steps of injecting flooding water into oil-bearing subterranean formations to displace portions of the residual oil therein the improvement comprising using flooding water containing an effective antibacterial amount of metronidazole.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1 wherein the flooding water contains 0.1 to 500 PPM metronidazole.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1 wherein the flooding water contains 0.1 to 10 PPM metronidazole.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1 wherein the flooding water contains at least 0.1 PPM metronidazole.

### Claim 5

A method for controlling bacterial growth during oil recovery operations comprising contacting the bacterial growth present during oil recovery operations with a 0.1 to 500 PPM metronidazole solution.