Oil recovery method employing thickened water and cross-flooding
A waterflooding method is described for recovering oil from a subterranean formation through a regular geometric well pattern. In the pattern, a plurality of peripheral wells are equidistantly spaced from one another with a central well located at their midpoint. In succession, amounts of flood water, thickened water, and additional flood water are injected into the formation, via the central well, until the first injected flood water, and then the thickened water, arrives at each of the peripheral wells. Any thickening agent can be used in the thickened water which provides it with a mobility no greater than the mobility of the oil in the unflooded formation. Each injected water may be used in an amount about equal to 30% of the hydrocarbon pore volume of the water-swept formation. The water-displaced oil moves toward the peripheral wells from which the oil is produced. The central well may be closed in when undesired amounts of water are produced with oil from the peripheral wells. (6 claims)
- Assignee:
- Mobil Oil Corp.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 3249372
- OSTI ID:
- 5564599
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ADDITIVES
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
VISCOSITY
WATERFLOODING
WELL SPACING
WELLS