Waterflooding method using modified starch granules
A method is described for waterflooding a hydrocarbon-containing formation wherein a plugging agent is added to the flood water to produce a more uniform injectivity profile and flood front. A stream of flood water is injected downwardly through an injection well or wells and into the formation. A volume of starch granules is contained within at least a portion of the stream. The injected starch granules have a size in the range of about 5 to 32 mu and have been treated to have an increased mechanical strength with no decrease in swelling properties relative to the starch particles prior to treatment. The fluids entering the producing well or wells are produced to the surface and captured. The starch granules can be continuously injected into the floodwater stream or added to the floodwater stream at spaced apart locations to periodically slug the formation with plugging material. (7 claims)
- Assignee:
- Phillips Petroleum Co.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 3724548
- OSTI ID:
- 5005495
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ADDITIVES
CARBOHYDRATES
COMPRESSION STRENGTH
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GRANULAR MATERIALS
HYDROCARBONS
INJECTION WELLS
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
PETROLEUM
PLUGGING
POLYSACCHARIDES
REAGENTS
RECOVERY
SACCHARIDES
SIZE
STARCH
SWELLING
WATERFLOODING
WELLS