Oil recovery with sulfomethylated poly (lower alkyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride)

Patent · Tue May 22 04:00:00 EDT 1973

OSTI ID:5311909

Norton, C J; Falk, D O

Lower alkyl vinyl ether e.g., methyl vinyl ether, propyl vinyl ether, isopropyl vinyl ether, hexyl vinyl ether, is copolymerized conventionally with maleic anhydride, the resulting copolymer is treated with ammonia or ammonium hydroxide to form the partial amide-ammonium salt, and this salt is in turn treated with formaldehyde and thereafter or simultaneously with ammonium or alkali metal salt sulfite (including bisulfites, etc.) to form an at least partially sulfomethylated copolymer. Aqueous solutions of the sulfomethylated copolymer are useful in increasing the viscosity of drive fluids used in the supplemented recovery of petroleum from subterranean formations. In general, enhancing the polyionic character of mobility control agents used in supplemented recovery of petroleum provides enhanced recovery. Achieving this enhancement of polyionic character through use of sulfonate groups provides a mobility control agent with good ability to sustain viscosity in the presence of brine and lime, usually present in the connate waters of petroleum-bearing formations. (7 claims)

• Assignee: Marathon Oil Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3734187
• OSTI ID: 5311909
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400301 -- Organic Chemistry-- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties-- (-1987)
ADDITIVES
ANHYDRIDES
CAUSTIC FLOODING
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COPOLYMERIZATION
COPOLYMERS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
METHYLATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
RECOVERY
SULFONATES
SYNTHESIS
VISCOSITY
WATERFLOODING