Miscible flood viscosity control through pH regulation

Patent · Tue Jan 10 04:00:00 EST 1967

OSTI ID:6525320

Gogarty, W B; Tosch, W C; Coppel, C P

This is a method of recovering fluid hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation by injecting into the formation a slug of soluble oil of modulated viscosity, driving the slug through the formation with a driving fluid, and recovering displaced oil from the formation. It has been discovered that the addition of water soluble acids and bases to soluble oils effectively reduces the viscosity of these materials. Among the acids useful in this process are nitric, acetic, hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, citric, propionic, boric, and phosphoric. Any alkali metal hydroxide is the preferred base, especially sodium hydroxide. The amount of acid or base required varies with the amount of viscosity reduction or stability increase desired. The desired amount and the maximum amount of ionic additive for a particular soluble oil can be routinely determined by adding small portions of the ionic additive to the oil until the desired viscosity is reached. (18 claims)

• Assignee: TUL; EDB-81-071901
• Patent Number(s): US 3297084
• OSTI ID: 6525320
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ACETIC ACID
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BORIC ACID
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CITRIC ACID
CONTROL
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROBROMIC ACID
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
HYDROXY ACIDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
NITRIC ACID
OIL WELLS
OILS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PH VALUE
PHOSPHORIC ACID
PROPIONIC ACID
RECOVERY
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
STIMULATION
SULFURIC ACID
VISCOSITY
WATERFLOODING
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS