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Title: Alkaline water flooding with a precipitation inhibitor for enhanced oil recovery

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5323586

This patent describes a process for the enhanced recovery of oil from a subterranean reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well wherein the reservoir includes an aqueous phase containing dissolved divalent metal cations. The process comprises injecting through an injection well an aqueous solution including an alkaline material sufficient to provide a solution pH of above about 8 and a predetermined amount of water-soluble precipitation inhibitor selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates and acrylate-containing copolymers having a number average molecular weight of from about 500 to about 50,000, polymaleic anhydrides, organo-phosphonates or carboxylate-containing organo-phosphonates selected from the group consisting of aminotrimethylenephosphonic acid, hydroxyethanediphosphonic acid, ethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonic acid, diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonic acid, hexamethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonic acid, phosphinopolycarboxylic acid, phosphenobutane tricarboxylic acid and alkali metal or ammonium salts thereof. The predetermined amount is sufficient to prevent substantial precipitation of divalent metal hydroxides or divalent metal carbonates in the injection well or the immediate vicinity of the injection.

Assignee:
PPG Industries, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
Patent Number(s):
US 4714113
OSTI ID:
5323586
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: Filed date 5 Dec 1986
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English