Method of improving steam flood conformance with steam flooding agents without a non-condensable gas
AssigneeTexaco Inc.
InventorsJeffrey T. Hawkins, Zean Z. Gassmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosed invention is a group of novel steam foaming agents for injection with steam to decrease permeability in steam sept zones. They are effective without the coinjection on a non-condensable gas. The foaming agents have the general formula: RO(R'O).sub.n R"SO.sub.3 M where R is an alkyl radical, branched or linear, having from about 15 to about 21 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, R' is ethyl or propyl, n has an average value of about 2 to about 5, R" is ethyl, propyl, hydroxypropyl or butyl and M is an alkali metal or ammonium ion.
Claims10
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises:
- injecting steam into an injection well;
- injecting into the injection well a mixture of steam and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a foaming agent based upon the weight of the steam in the injected mixture,
- said foaming agent represented by the formula,
- RO(R'O).sub.n R"SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+,
- where R is an alkyl radical, branched or linear, having from about 15 to about 21 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, R' is ethyl or propyl, n has an average value of about 2 to about 5, R" is ethyl, propyl, hydroxypropyl or butyl, and M.sup.+ is an alkali metal or ammonium ion;
- injecting steam into said injection well;
- and
- recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids at a production well.
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises:
- injecting into an injection well a mixture of steam and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a foaming agent based upon the weight of the steam in the injected mixture,
- said foaming agent represented by the formula,
- RO(R'O).sub.n R"SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+,
- where R is an alkyl radical, branched or linear, having from about 15 to about 21 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, R' is ethyl or propyl, n has an average value of about 2 to about 5, R" is ethyl, propyl, hydroxypropyl or butyl, and M.sup.+ is an alkali metal or ammonium ion;
- injecting steam into said injection well;
- and
- recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids at a production well.
A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises:
- injecting into an injection well a mixture of steam and about 0.02% to about 1.5% by weight of a foaming agent based upon the weight of steam in the injected mixture,
- said foaming agent represented by the formula, ##STR3## injecting steam into said injection well;
- and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids at a production well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.