Method of miscible flooding

Patent · Tue Aug 31 04:00:00 EDT 1965

OSTI ID:6669817

Dew, J N; Reed, P W

In a method of secondary recovery of oil by miscible flooding a gaseous fluid is injected into the formation to establish a pressure in excess of the vapor pressure of the liquefied, low-molecular weight hydrocarbons to be used as displacement media. This displacement media, such as propane, is then injected into the reservoir in an amount of about 1.0-10.0% of the hydrocarbon pore space. This injection is followed by a second displacement media, such as butane, in a amount of about 1.5-15.0% of the hydrocarbon pore space. The second displacement media has a greater viscosity than the first media and is miscible with it. A displacement gas, such as methane, carbon dioxide, or nitrogen, is then injected as the ultimate step in the process. This gas has a lesser viscosity than of the second displacement media. The reservoir pressure is maintained at a value greater than the normal vapor pressure of the first 2 displacement media. Oil is produced through the recovery well or wells. (7 claims)

• Assignee: TUL; EDB-81-030770
• Patent Number(s): US 3203481
• OSTI ID: 6669817
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ALKANES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS INJECTION
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PROPANE
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
STIMULATION
VISCOSITY
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS