Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Method for improving sweep efficiency in CO sub 2 oil recovery

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6754772
This patent describes a method for improving the vertical and/or horizontal sweep efficiency of a subterranean oil and brine containing formation having at lest one relatively high permeability zone and at lest one relatively low permeability zone, the formation being penetrated by at lest one injection well and a spaced apart production well in fluid communication with the formation. It comprises: determining the formation temperature and properties of the oil and brine contained within the formation; injecting a predetermined amount of a surfactant solution into the formation via the injection well that preferentially enters the relatively high permeability zone or zones and forms a surfactant/brine/oil microemulsion when the surfactant mixes with the oil and brine in the formation at the temperature, pressure and salinity with the formation; injecting CO{sub 2} at a predetermined pressure into the formation; injecting a predetermined amount of CO{sub 2} into the formation; and injecting a displacing fluid into the formation to displace CO{sub 2} and oil through the relatively low permeability zones of the formation toward the production well from which oil is recovered.
Assignee:
Mobil Oil Corp., New York, NY (USA)
Patent Number(s):
A; US 4921576
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-340741A
OSTI ID:
6754772
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English