Enhanced oil recovery process with reduced gas drive mobility

Patent · Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6589875

Chang, H L; Kralik, J G

This patent describes a process for recovering crude oil from a subterranean formation at a temperature above about 200/sup 0/F and having at least one injection means in fluid communication with at least one production means comprising: (a) injecting into the formation a liquid solution consisting essentially of at least one surfactant and an aqueous medium wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of substantially hydrocarbon sulfonates, substantially hydrocarbon sulfonate derivatives and mixtures thereof and the surfactant is present in an amount at least equal to the critical micelle concentration and in the range of about 0.10% to 1.0%, on a weight basis, of the liquid solution; (b) injection a gas to urge the solution toward the production means, provided that the surfactant is present in an amount effective to reduce the mobility of the mixture of the gas and the solution through the formation; and (c) recovering crude oil from the formation through the production means.

• Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co., Los Angeles, CA
• Patent Number(s): US 4773484
• OSTI ID: 6589875
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 24 Mar 1987
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
OIL WELLS
GAS INJECTION
AIR
ALKYL RADICALS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CARBON DIOXIDE
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ETHANE
FLUE GAS
LIQUIDS
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
METHANE
NATURAL GAS
NITROGEN
PETROLEUM
PROPANE
SULFONATES
SURFACTANTS
TOLUENE
WATERFLOODING
WELL STIMULATION
ALKANES
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
MIXTURES
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADICALS
RECOVERY
SOLUTIONS
STIMULATION
WASTES
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production