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US 7,730,958 B2Granted
Method and apparatus to enhance hydrocarbon production from wells
OwnerDavid Randolph Smithinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention teaches methods and compositions to enhance oil and gas recovery from reservoirs. The methods and compositions disclosed enhance hydrocarbon recovery and fluid disposal in subterranean reservoirs by injecting microemulsion fluids with supercritical fluids, water, or an alternating injection phase of each fluid.
Claims17
A method of improving hydrocarbon recovery from a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir comprising the step of:
- injecting a composition comprising a microemulsion fluid and a supercritical fluid into an injection well and then into said subterranean reservoir, said microemulsion fluid comprising:
- (i) an oil phase,
- (ii) an aqueous phase;
- and,
- (iii) at least one surfactant;
- wherein the aqueous phase is distributed in the oil phase in the form of droplets having a diameter in the range 1 to 1000 nm or in the form of micro domains having at least one dimension of length, breadth or thickness in the range 1 to 1000 nm;
- and,
- said step of injecting a composition comprises injecting said composition at a pressure below the hydraulic fracturing pressure of the reservoir.
5 more elements
A method of improving the sequestering of gases in a subterranean reservoir comprising the step of:
- injecting a fluid composition comprising a microemulsion fluid and a supercritical fluid into an injection well and then into said subterranean reservoir, said microemulsion fluid comprising:
- (i) an oil phase,
- (ii) an aqueous phase;
- and,
- (iii) at least one surfactant;
- said step of injecting a composition comprises injecting said composition at a pressure below the hydraulic fracturing pressure of the reservoir.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.