Enhanced oil recovery with hydrophobically associating polymers containing n-vinyl-pyrrolidone functionality
This invention relates to a method for enhanced recovery of petroleum from a subterranean oil-bearing formation. More particularly, this invention relates to secondary or tertiary recovery of oil employing a polymer-thickened aqueous drive fluid. The polymeric viscosifier for the drive fluid is selected from a class of hydrophobically associating, water soluble polymers containing one or more water soluble monomers and a water insoluble monomer group. The water soluble groups are acrylamide and a salt of acrylic acid and the water insoluble group is a higher alkylacrylamide. These polymers, when dissolved in an aqueous brine solution, have the ability to substantially increase the viscosity of the aqueous solution. The control of displacement fluid mobility results in more uniform sweep efficiency and improved oil recovery. In addition, aqueous solutions of these hydrophobically associating polymers exhibit enhanced viscosification, reduced salt sensitivity and other desirable rheological properties found useful in chemically enhanced oil recovery processes.
- Assignee:
- Exxon Research and Engineering Co., Florham Park, NJ
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4709759
- OSTI ID:
- 5075577
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 29 Dec 1986
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
03 NATURAL GAS
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
POLYMERS
POLYVINYLS
PYRROLIDONES
WATERFLOODING
WELL STIMULATION
AMIDES
AZOLES
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
LACTAMS
MIXTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PYRROLES
RECOVERY
SOLUTIONS
STIMULATION
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing