Enzymatic method for improving the injectability of polysaccharides. [US Patent Application]

Patent ·

OSTI ID:5118416

Griffith, W L; Compere, A L; Holleman, J W

A method for enhancing the ability of polysaccharides in aqueous solution to flow through a porous medium comprises contacting the polysaccharides with an endoenzyme capable of hydrolyzing at least one of the linkages of the sugar units of the polysaccharides and maintaining the polysaccharides in contact with the enzyme under hydrolysis conditions for a time sufficient to decrease the tendency of the polysaccharides to plug the porous medium yet insufficient to decrease the viscosity of the aqueous polysaccharides by more than 25%. The partially hydrolyzed polysaccharides are useful as thickening agents for flooding water used to recover oil from oil-containing subterranean formations.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): None
• OSTI ID: 5118416
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
550200 -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CARBOHYDRATES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS
ENZYMES
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
HYDROLASES
HYDROLYSIS
LYSIS
MATERIALS
OIL WELLS
OPTIMIZATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYSACCHARIDES
POROUS MATERIALS
RECOVERY
SACCHARIDES
SOLVOLYSIS
VISCOSITY
WATERFLOODING
WELLS