Oil recovery method using crude oil base soluble oil compositions

Patent · Tue May 23 00:00:00 EDT 1972

OSTI ID:7215965

Holm, L W

Use of crude oils exhibiting gravities in the range of about 27/sup 0/ to 50/sup 0/ API and pour points less than 55/sup 0/F in soluble oil solutions (anhydrous or microemulsions), yielded clear, transparent microemulsions which were stable and did not separate into distinct phases on the addition of as much as 70 to 80 volume percent water. The soluble oils also contained water, surfactants, and a stabilizing agent (a partially oxygenated organic liquid, such as secondary butyl alcohol, glycol monoalkyl ether). The surfactants consisted of oil-soluble anionic organic sulfonates (alkyl sodium benzene monosulfonates or alkyl sodium polyaryl monosulfonates, whose molecular weight was greater than 400), or a mixture of oil-soluble and water-soluble sulfonates. The sodium salt of the water-soluble alkyl aryl sulfonates contained more than one sulfonic acid group per molecule and had a molecular weight of less than 400.

• Assignee: Union Oil Co. of California
• Patent Number(s): US 3664419
• OSTI ID: 7215965
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ESTERS
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM SULFONATES
SULFONATES
SULFONIC ACID ESTERS
SURFACTANTS
WELLS