Oil recovery by waterflooding employing multicomponent surfactant systems

Patent · Tue Feb 22 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7225605

Birk, S C

A process is described for the recovery of oil from subterranean oil reservoirs by waterflooding employing an anionic-nonionic surfactant system which is particularly suitable for use in reservoirs in which the connate waters contain a high salt content, including divalent metal salts, or which may be employed in carrying out waterfloods in which the available injection waters exhibit a relatively high salt content. The multifunctional surfactant system comprises a surface-active amide linked sulfonate anionic group and a surface-active polyethylene oxide nonionic group and may be employed in an aqueous solution having a salinity within the range of 3 to 25 wt percent. Subsequent to the injection of the aqueous solution of surfactant, an aqueous flooding medium may be injected which exhibits a salinity which is lower than the salinity of the surfactant slug. 21 claims, 11 figures.

• Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 4008768
• OSTI ID: 7225605
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOLS
POLYMERS
RESOURCES
SULFONATES
SURFACTANTS
WATERFLOODING
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS