High conformance enhanced oil recovery process
Patent
·
OSTI ID:5722703
The conformance of a surfactant waterflood oil recovery process in a formation containing at least two zones of varying permeability, the permeability of one zone being at least 50 percent greater than the permeability of the other zone, is improved by flooding until the higher permeability zone has been depleted, after which a small amount of oil is injected followed by water injection for a period of time sufficient to resaturate the swept zone at least adjacent to the injection well. Next, a fluid is injected into the high permeability zone, said fluid having relatively low viscosity at the time of injection and containing surface active agents which promote the formation of a coarse emulsion in the flow channels of the formation which reduces the permeability of the high permeability zone. Since the viscosity of the fluid injected into the previously waterflooded, high permeability zone is no greater than water, it is injected easily into the zone and moves through substantially the same flow channels as water would move in the formation. After the permeability of the first zone has been reduced substantially, surfactant waterflooding may then be accomplished in the second zone which was originally not invaded by the injected fluid since its permeability was substantially less than the permeability of the first zone.
- Assignee:
- Texaco Inc
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4192382
- OSTI ID:
- 5722703
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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