Oil recovery method using microemulsions

Patent · Tue Sep 21 04:00:00 EDT 1976

OSTI ID:6559813

Healy, R N

This invention relates to a method of designing a microemulsion for recovering oil from an oil-bearing subterranean formation. In a specific embodiment of this invention an oil having physical and chemical charateristics similar to those of the formation oil, an aqueous medium having physical and chemical characteristics similar to those of the formation water, and a selected surfactant are combined. The surfactant is employed in an amount in excess of the critical micelle concentration for the system in order to form a microemulsion. The surfactant is selected for its ability to form a volumetric ratio of water to surfactant in the microemulsion greater than 0.5 and/or a volumetric ratio of oil to surfactant in the microemulsion greater than 0.5. Preferably, these volumetric ratios will exceed 2.0. Microemulsions compounded from such an oil, such an aqueous medium, and such a surfactant will form a class of microemulsions all of which are effective in recovering oil from the subterranean formation of interest. (19 claims)

• Assignee: Exxon Production Res Co
• Patent Number(s): US 3981361
• OSTI ID: 6559813
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EMULSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
INTERFACES
MATERIALS
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MICROEMULSIONS
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
POROUS MATERIALS
RECOVERY
STIMULATION
SURFACTANTS
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS