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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Miscible-displacement process

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6895526

A miscible-displacement, gas-drive, secondary-recovery process is provided which greatly improves areal sweep efficiencies. In carrying out the process, about 0.03-0.20 reservoir pore volume of a low-viscosity liquid hydrocarbon is first injected through the input well and into the reservoir. The liquid hydrocarbon is preferably a liquefied, normally gaseous, low-molecular-weight material, such as LPG, propane, or butane. Other normally liquid hydrocarbon fractions may be used. The gas injected to provide a gas drive must be inert, and miscible with, or highly soluble in, the injected hydrocarbon. Gases such as methane, ethane, and natural gas are preferred. On oil-soluble, high-foaming surfactant should be incorporated in the first-injected liquid hydrocarbon in the amount of 0.1-5% by weight. The exact amount will vary depending upon the nature of the surfactant is determined by experiment. High-foaming surfactants can be selected from published tables describing the properties of commercially available surfactants.

Assignee:
Pure Oil Co.
Patent Number(s):
US 3196944
OSTI ID:
6895526
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English