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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Oil recovery process by micible displacement

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5464422

In a process for the recovery of oil from a subterranean formation using as a first bank a polar organic solvent and as a second bank an aqueous surfactant solution, an organic additive is added to the surfactant solution. The organic additive decreases the density of the surfactant solution and reduces the tendency of the second bank to underride the first bank. The organic additive also decreases the amount of surfactant which must be employed in the second bank to cause the second bank to miscibly displace the first bank and to be miscibly displaced by the following flood water. The organic additive must be highly soluble in both the polar organic solvent and water. The density of the organic additive should be approx. that of water or less. (5 claims)

Assignee:
Esso Production Res Co.
Patent Number(s):
US 3605891
OSTI ID:
5464422
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English