Miscible flooding process using methane-enriched soluble oil

Patent · Tue Aug 20 04:00:00 EDT 1974

OSTI ID:6986123

Holm, L W

A miscible flooding process is described for the recovery of oil from subterranean reservoirs is described. A methane-enriched soluble oil is injected into the reservoir through one or more injection wells at a pressure above the bubble-point pressure of the composition. Thereafter, an aqueous flooding agent is injected to drive the soluble oil toward a production well. The soluble oil comprises an admixture of a liquid hydrocarbon, surface active organic sulfonates, and a stabilizing agent. It is enriched by the addition of methane in an amount not exceeding the saturation composition at reservoir conditions of temperature and pressure. The soluble oil can be substantially anhydrous, or it can contain water present as a water-in-oil microemulsion. (13 claims)

• Assignee: Union Oil Co. California
• Patent Number(s): US 3830301
• OSTI ID: 6986123
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ALKANES
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLVED GASES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ESTERS
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
LIQUIDS
METHANE
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
MIXTURES
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM SULFONATES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
SOLUTES
SOLUTIONS
SULFONATES
SULFONIC ACID ESTERS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
VISCOSITY
WATERFLOODING
WELL PRESSURE
WELLS