Micellar flooding process for recovering oil from petroleum reservoirs

Patent · Tue Mar 15 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7294977

Holm, L W

A process is described for recovering oil from subterranean petroleum reservoirs in which there are successively injected into the reservoir (1) an aqueous alkaline alkali metal silicate solution, (2) a micellar solution, and (3) an aqueous drive fluid. Oil is recovered from one or more production wells spaced apart in the reservoir from the injection well. The micellar solution can be a substantially anhydrous soluble oil, a soluble oil containing water present in the form of a water-in-oil microemulsion, a water-external microemulsion, or an aqueous micellar surfactant solution. Additionally, the micellar solution can be a substantially anhydrous soluble oil or a soluble oil containing water present in the form of a water-in-oil microemulsion followed by a water-external microemulsion. 20 claims.

• Assignee: Union Oil Co. of California
• Patent Number(s): US 4011908
• OSTI ID: 7294977
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
MIXTURES
OIL WELLS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOLUTIONS
WELLS