Surfactant oil recovery process usable in high temperature, high salinity formations

Patent · Tue Mar 07 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6892627

Shupe, R D; Maddox, J Jr

Many petroleum formations contain water having high salinity and high concentrations of divalent ions such as calcium or magnesium dissolved therein, and are additionally at temperatures from about 70/sup 0/F to 300/sup 0/F. Most surfactants suitable for use in oil-recovery operations are either ineffective in high salinity or high hardness waters, or cannot tolerate the higher temperatures encountered in many such formations. A surfactant composition is described which is compatible with such reservoirs. An aqueous fluid containing a water-soluble alkylpolyalkoxyalkyl sulfonate or alkylarylpolyalkoxyalkyl sulfonate and a water-insoluble polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol or polyethoxylated alkylphenol nonionic surfactant is effective in formations containing water whose salinity is from 70,000 to 220,000 ppm total dissolved solids and also having temperatures as high as 300/sup 0/F. The fluid is phase stable over a wide range of formation temperatures and water salinities and hardness values. (19 claims)

• Assignee: Texaco Inc.
• Patent Number(s): US 4077471
• OSTI ID: 6892627
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400301 -- Organic Chemistry-- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties-- (-1987)
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ESTERS
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM SULFONATES
RECOVERY
SALINITY
STIMULATION
SULFONATES
SULFONIC ACID ESTERS
SURFACTANTS
WATERFLOODING
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS