Microemulsion of increased viscosity for improved oil recovery
The displacement efficiency of microemulsions as solvents in miscible waterflooding is improved by increasing their viscosity with a polymer thickener such as polysaccharide B-1459, (0.005 to 1 percent concentration). Composition of the surfactant slug is an aqueous solution of an alkali metal alkyl aryl petroleum (or aliphatic) hydrocarbon polymer sulfonate, a water soluble alcohol, the polysaccharide, and possibly sodium chloride and an oil. A bactericide, (mercuric chloride or alkali metal chlorinated phenols), is added to the surfactant slug. Following the surfactant slug is a mobility control fluid(generally thickened water) and finally a driving fluid (water). Berea sandstone cores were filled with Barrett Field (Nebraska) crude oil and then flooded with the above solutions. A 7 to 10 percent increase in tertiary oil recovery was obtained when polymer thickener was added to the surfactant slug. Oil production after injection of the polymer-containing surfactant slug also was more rapid than in the case where no polymer was added to the slug.
- Assignee:
- Pan American Petroleum Corp.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 3719606
- OSTI ID:
- 7215981
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ALCOHOLS
CARBOHYDRATES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
POLYSACCHARIDES
ROCKS
SACCHARIDES
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SURFACTANTS
VISCOSITY
WATERFLOODING
WELLS