Immiscible displacement of oil with surfactant system

Patent · Tue Dec 03 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5866297

Shaw, J E

In accordance with the present invention it has been found that improved recovery of oil from a subsurface earth formation can be attained by injecting into the formation a surfactant system comprising a carboxylate surfactant, a cosurfactant and an electrolyte in concentrations and proportions to form an immiscible three-phase system with the reservoir oil comprising a predominantly oil phase, a microemulsion phase and an aqueous phase. The carboxylate surfactant is preferably selected from the group consisting of branched aliphatic carboxylates and mononuclear aromatic carboxylates. Where aliphatic carboxylates are utilized as a surfactant, it is preferred that the polar organic material utilized as a cosurfactant have a solubility in water less than about ten grams per hundred grams of water ost about 20/sup 0/ C. and, when an aromatic carboxylate is utilized as a surfactant, it is preferred that the polar organic material utilized as a cosurfactant have a water solubility greater than about ten grams per hundred grams of water at about 20/sup 0/ C. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, it has been found that surfactant systems containing carboxylate surfactants will recover optimum amounts of oil when a base is added to the surfactant system to adjust the pH to a value at which the surfactant system results nin optimum oil recovery.

• Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 4556495
• OSTI ID: 5866297
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 28 Jun 1983; Other Information: PAT-APPL-508637
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
OIL WELLS
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
WATERFLOODING
CARBOXYLIC ACID ESTERS
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
ELECTROLYTES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
PHASE STUDIES
SOLUBILITY
SURFACTANTS
ESTERS
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production