Oil recovery by waterflooding employing multicomponent surfactant systems

Patent · Tue Feb 22 00:00:00 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
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 20 Mar 1975
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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