Micellar dispersions with tolerance for extreme water hardness for use in petroleum recovery
A thickened, miscible flooding medium useful for displacing petroleum in subterranean reservoirs is described. The medium consists of a dispersion of light hydrocarbons, an aqueous fluid, and a surfactant system. This aqueous fluid may have from 1,500 to 12,000 ppm polyvalent ions present, such as calcium and magnesium. The surfactant system is comprised of an aqueous solution of an anionic surfactant such as a water-soluble salt of an alkyl or an alkylaryl sulfonate, for example sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, plus a water-soluble salt of an alkyl or alkylaryl polyethoxylated sulfate anionic surfactant, such as sodium dodecyl polyethoxy sulfate, plus a nonionic surfactant such as a fatty acid diethanolamide, a polyethoxylated aliphetic alcohol, or a polyethoxylated alkyl phenol. A method is described for recovering petroleum from subterranean reservoirs using the described thickened fluid. (8 claims)
- Assignee:
- Texaco Inc.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4059154
- OSTI ID:
- 6400944
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ADDITIVES
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
CALCIUM
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MAGNESIUM
METALS
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
STIMULATION
SURFACTANTS
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS