Secondary recovery process utilizing water saturated with gas

Patent · Tue Aug 30 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6800488

Allen, J C

A secondary recovery process is described for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil reservoir penetrated by an injection well and a production well where-in a fluid such as water saturated with a gas is utilized to displace hydrocarbons in the formation toward a production well. Prior to employing the process, it is sometimes desirable to open up a communication path through the formation by a hydraulic fracturing. The driving fluid is prepared by saturating water with gas such as natural gas, air, carbon dioxide, flue gas, ammonia and their mixtures at pressure of 100 to 6,000 psi and at a temperature of 40/sup 0/ to 150/sup 0/F. If desired, the driving fluid may consist of alkaline gas-saturated, water or an alkaline, gas-saturated, water composition containing a minor amount of a solubilizing agent. The alkaline medium is believed to impart wettability characteristics of the alkaline agent. When the solubilizing agent is employed, it is believed that an advantage results from the solubilizing action on the crude oil, especially on the asphaltene fractions. (14 claims)

• Assignee: Texaco Inc
• Patent Number(s): US 4004831
• OSTI ID: 6800488
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ADDITIVES
COMMINUTION
CONTROL
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GAS INJECTION
GASES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
HYDROCARBONS
INJECTION WELLS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RECOVERY
RESOURCES
SATURATION
SURFACTANTS
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
WATERFLOODING
WELLS