In situ chemical stimulation of diatomite formations
AssigneeChevron Research Company
InventorBruce W. Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved method of recovering oil from diatomite is described. A solvent is injected into the diatomite followed by an aqueous surface active solution. The aqueous surface active solution contains a diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent and an oil/water surface tension lowering agent. The method may be supplemented by injection of water and/or steam into the diatomite.
Claims22
A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of:
- a. introducing an aqueous surface solution into the diatomite formation, said aqueous surface active solution comprising (i) a diatomite/oil/ water wettability improving agent, and (ii) an oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent;
- and
- b. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of:
- a. introducing an aqueous diatomite/oil/water wettability improving agent into the diatomite formation;
- and, thereafter
- b. introducing an aqueous oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent into the diatomite formation, said interfacial tension lowering agent further comprising a surfactant;
- and
- c. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
A method of recovering hydrocarbons comprising:
- a. injecting a solvent into a subsurface diatomaceous material, said solvent selected from the group consisting of:
- jet fuel, petroleum naphtha, desulfurized gasoline blending stock, aromatic hydrocarbons, naphthenic hydrocarbons, 225 thinner, paraffinic hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof;
- and, thereafter
- b. injecting an aqueous surface active solution into said diatomaceous material, said surface active solution further comprising:
- (i) polypropylene toluene sulfonate (PPTS);
- (ii) a material selected from the group:
- trisodium nitrilotriacetate, sodium metasilicate, aminotri (methylene phosphonic acid) neutralized with KOH, (methylene phosphonic acid) pentasodium salt, and mixtures thereof;
- and
- (iii) an electrolyte;
- and thereafter
- c. injecting an aqueous saline solution into said diatomaceous material;
- and, thereafter
- d. injecting steam into said diatomaceous material;
- and thereafter
- e. producing oil from the diatomaceous material.
A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of:
- a. introducing a solvent into the formation;
- b. introducing an aqueous surface active solution into the diatomite formation, said aqueous surface active solution comprising:
- (i) a diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent and
- (ii) an oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent;
- and
- c. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of:
- a. introducing a solvent into the formation;
- b. introducing an aqueous diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent into the diatomite formation;
- and, thereafter
- c. introducing an aqueous oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent into the diatomite formation;
- and
- d. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of:
- a. introducing an aqueous surface active solution into the diatomite formation, said aqueous surface active solution comprising:
- (i) a diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent, said wettability improving agent further comprising aminotri (methylene phosphonic acid) pentasodium salt;
- and
- (ii) an oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent;
- and
- b. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of:
- a. introducing an aqueous diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent said wettability improving agent further comprising aminotri (methylene phosphonic acid) pentasodium salt agent into the diatomite formation;
- and, thereafter
- b. introducing an aqueous oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent into the diatomite formation, said interfacial tension lowering agent further comprising a surfactant;
- and
- c. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of:
- a. introducing an aqueous surface active solution into the diatomite formation, said aqueous surface active solution comprising:
- (i) a diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent and
- (ii) an oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent, said interfacial tension lowering agent further comprising polypropylene toluene sulfonate and an ethoxylated C.sub.11 -C.sub.15 secondary alcohol;
- and
- b. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of:
- a. introducing an aqueous diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent into the diatomite formation;
- and, thereafter
- b. introducing an aqueous oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent into the diatomite formation, said interfacial tension lowering agent further comprising polypropylene toluene sulfonate and an ethoxylated C.sub.11 -C.sub.15 secondary alcohol;
- and
- c. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
A method of recovering hydrocarbon from a subsurface diatomite formation comprising the steps of:
- a. introducing an aqueous surface active solution into the diatomite formation, said aqueous surface active solution comprising:
- (i) a diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent and
- (ii) an oil/water interfacial tension lowering agent, said interfacial tension lowering agent further comprising a surfactant;
- and
- b. producing oil from the diatomite formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.