Waterflood employing viscous solutions
This invention is broadly concerned with a secondary recovery operation for obtaining oil from a subterranean formation. The invention is more particularly directed to a secondary recovery operation in which water is employed and a water-thickening agent is utilized to increase the viscosity of the water so as to prevent fingering in the oil-containing formation. In accordance with the invention, a flooding fluid is injected through an injection well and oil is produced through a production well. There is employed, in at least a portion of the flooding liquid, water incorporating at least 0.01% by wt of a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol sulfate. The concentration of the polyvinyl alcohol sulfate employed is preferably high enough to restrict the mobility of water to a value no greater than that of the mobility of the oil in the formation. (1 claim)
- Assignee:
- Mobil Oil Corp.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 3352358
- OSTI ID:
- 6284150
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ADDITIVES
ALCOHOLS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
STIMULATION
WATER TREATMENT
WATERFLOODING
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS