Foaming agents for carbon dioxide and steam floods

Patent · Tue Jul 02 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5790289

Naae, D G

This patent describes improvement in a steam flood or carbon dioxide flood in an underground hydrocarbon formation. The improvement comprises: injecting into an injection well above 0.05% to about 5% by weight aqueous surfactant solution which will foam and reduce the permeability of swept zones, forcing steam or carbon dioxide into unswept areas of the formation, the aqueous surfactant solution comprising a surfactant having the formula R(C{sub 2}H{sub 4}O){sub n}SO{sub 4}{sup {minus}}M{sup +} where R is a lignin phenol produced by reducing lignin in the presence of a reducing agent of carbon monoxide or hydrogen at a temperature greater than about 200{degrees} C. and a pressure greater than about 100 psi, n has an average value of about 2 to about 25, and M{sup +} is an alkali metal or ammonium cation; and injecting into the injection well a flooding medium of steam or carbon dioxide.

• Assignee: Texaco Inc., White Plains, NY (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5027898
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-539507
• OSTI ID: 5790289
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
AROMATICS
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON DIOXIDE INJECTION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOAMS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INJECTION WELLS
LIGNIN
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
MIXTURES
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
PHENOLS
POLYSACCHARIDES
SACCHARIDES
SOLUTIONS
STEAM INJECTION
SURFACTANTS
WELLS