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U.S. Department of Energy
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Gravity stable surfactant flooding in gas depleted reservoirs

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5697102
This patent describes a method of recovering hydrocarbons from an underground vertical hydrocarbon reservoir having a substantial vertical thickness, and at least one injection well and at least one production well penetrating the reservoir. The method consists of: injecting a surfactant slug through an injection well into the bottom of a vertical reservoir above any water zone, the vertical reservoir having a gas cap and an oil saturation relatively near residual oil saturation to gas; driving the surfactant slug upwards through the vertical reservoir by producing the gas cap of the reservoir, producing hydrocarbons banked about the surfactant slug or injecting fluid below the surfactant slug; and recovering hydrocarbons at the production well.
Assignee:
Texaco Inc., White Plains, NY
Patent Number(s):
US 4838350
OSTI ID:
5697102
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English