Secondary recovery of hydrocarbons with sulfur trioxide

Patent · Tue Jul 05 04:00:00 EDT 1966

OSTI ID:6486325

Prats, M; Closmann, P J

In a method of secondary recovery with sulfur trioxide, a quantity of sulfur trioxide is injected which is sufficient to react with a portion of the hydrocarton in the formation. The resulting reaction forms petroleum sulfonates in the formation which are kept in contact with the petroleum to reduce the surface tension of the petroleum and to heat the formation. The hydrocarbons are further heated in situ by the reaction between sulfur trioxide with the formation water, resulting in reducing the viscosity of the hydrocarbon. Additional quantities of sulfur trioxide are then introduced, and the petroleum sulfonates and hydrocarbon forced toward a second well. The sulfuric acid formed is neutralized by the carbonate material as it is displaced from the injection to the production well. (2 claims)

• Assignee: Shell Oil Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3259187
• OSTI ID: 6486325
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CHALCOGENIDES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ESTERS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HEATING
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM SULFONATES
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
STIMULATION
SULFONATES
SULFONIC ACID ESTERS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
SULFUR TRIOXIDE
THERMAL RECOVERY
VISCOSITY
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS