Alkaline flooding for enhanced oil recovery
There are over 12 active projects of varying size using one of 3 major types of alkaline agents. These include sodium silicate, caustic soda, and soda ash. Among the largest pilots currently is the THUMS project in the Wilmington field, California. Plans called for the injection of a 4% weight concentration of sodium orthosilicate over a 60% PV. Through the first 3 yr, over 27 million bbl of chemicals have been injected. Gulf Oil is operating several alkaline floods, one of which is located off shore in the Quarantine Bay field, Louisiana. In this pilot, sodium hydroxide in a weight concentration of 5 to 12% is being injected. Belco Petroleum Corp. has reported that their pilot operating in the Isenhour Unit in Wyoming is using a .5% weight concentration of soda ash in conjunction with a polymer. Other uses for alkaline agents in chemical flooding include the use of silicate as a preflush or sacrificial agent in micellar/polymer and surfactant recovery systems. In addition, caustic has been tested in the surface-mixed caustic emulsion process while orthosilicate has been tested in a recovery method known as mobility-controlled caustic floods.
- OSTI ID:
- 5718992
- Journal Information:
- Drilling-DCW; (United States), Vol. 44:12
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Improved oil recovery by alkaline flooding in the Huntington Beach Field. Final report
Scale formation during Alkaline flooding
Related Subjects
OIL WELLS
CAUSTIC FLOODING
CALIFORNIA
ENHANCED RECOVERY
LOUISIANA
OFFSHORE SITES
ONSHORE SITES
PETROLEUM
SODIUM SILICATES
WYOMING
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION IX
FEDERAL REGION VI
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
USA
WATERFLOODING
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production