A CO/sub 2/ drive process for oil recovery employing an alcohol ethoxycarboxylate surfactant

Patent · Tue Jan 24 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6228871

Borchardt, J K

A process is described for enhancing the recovery of oil from a subterranean oil-containing reservoir having a temperature of at least about 40/sup 0/C, which comprises steps for: (a) injecting into an injection well in the reservoir substantially liquid CO/sub 2/ and an aqueous mixture containing between about 50 and 10,000 parts per million by weight, calculated on the weight of the water, of one or more surfactants of the formula R-(OCH/sub 2/CH/sub 2/)/sub x/-Z wherein R represents an alkyl group of about 8 to 16 carbon atoms, x is an integer having an average value of about 5 to 20, and Z represents either a -OCOOM formate group or a -OCH/sub 2/COOM acetate group, with M representing a mono-valent inorganic cation, to displace oil from the reservoir; and (b) recovering the displaced oil from one or more recovery wells in the reservoir.

• Assignee: Shell Oil Co., Houston, TX
• Patent Number(s): US 4799547
• OSTI ID: 6228871
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ACETATES
ALCOHOLS
ALKOXY RADICALS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON DIOXIDE INJECTION
CARBON OXIDES
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ETHOXY RADICALS
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
MIXTURES
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
RADICALS
RECOVERY
SOLUTIONS
STIMULATION
SURFACTANTS
WATERFLOODING
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS