Micellar flooding process

Patent · Tue Jul 19 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6799766

Holm, L W; Ferr, D H

A petroleum recovery process employing a micellar displacement system which is effective even in the presence of multivalent cations is discussed. The micellar displacement system includes a micellar solution phase and an aqueous phase incorporating an aminopolycarboxylic acid chelating agent or the ammonium or alkali metal salts thereof. The chelating agent is present in a amount in excess of the stoichiometric amount required to chelate the polyvalent cations of the aqueous phase. The preferred chelating agents are the tetrasodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and the trisodium salt of nitrilotriacetic acid. The micellar displacement system, including the chelating agent, is injected into the reservoir through at least one injection well. This is followed by an aqueous flooding medium which also may contain the chelating agent and which is injected into the reservoir to drive the displacement system toward one or more spaced production wells for recovery of the reservoir fluids. (30 claims)

• Assignee: Union Oil Co. California
• Patent Number(s): US 4036300
• OSTI ID: 6799766
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
AMINO ACIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHELATING AGENTS
EDTA
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
INJECTION WELLS
MICELLAR SYSTEMS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NTA
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESOURCES
WATERFLOODING
WELLS