Recovery of oil using microemulsions
This patent describes a method of recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir formation containing formation hydrocarbons and formation water. It comprises determining the effective reservoir water/hydrocarbon bank viscosity and the reservoir salinity; determining the proper oil molar volume for a micro-emulsion; determining the proper oil or mixture of oils to be used to create an optimal microemulsion; tailoring a microemulsion in the one phase region of the ternary diagram of an optimum microemulsion system that is optimum at the reservoir salinity; injecting the microemulsion into the formation through at least one injection means to displace the hydrocarbons toward at least one production means, and recovering hydrocarbons with the production means.
- Assignee:
- Exxon Production Research Co., Houston, TX (United States)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5135052; A
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-676958
- OSTI ID:
- 7026944
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 28 Mar 1991
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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