Method for waterflooding petroliferous strata

Patent · Tue Jan 30 04:00:00 EST 1968

OSTI ID:7299548

Ferrell, H H; Baldwin, Jr, D E

A water-soluble, anionic or nonionic surfactant (e.g. ammonium petroleum sulfonate) plus a water-insoluble, oil-soluble, organic polar material such as an organic acid containing from 4 to 20 carbon atoms or an n-aliphatic alcohol containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms (e.g. n-octanol) are employed in enhanced oil recovery. Both surfactant and alcohol may be injected together as one aqueous slug or the alcohol slug may be introduced into the reservoir ahead of the surfactant slug. Berea sandstone cores were saturated with 50,000 ppM sodium chloride solution, flooded with 80 pale oil (a solvent refined Mid-Continent lubricating oil with a viscosity of 80 S.S.U. at 100/sup 0/F), and then water-flooded before treatment with a slug of sulfonate and alcohol. The maximum recovery obtained was about 48 percent of residual oil after the waterflood. A field test was conducted in southern Oklahoma, following a waterflood, with a more dilute slug of sulfonate and alcohol. The reservoir was sandstone with an average porosity of 20.5 percent and an average air permeability of 125 md. The crude was approximately 36/sup 0/ API with a viscosity of 5 cp. A recovery of about 15 percent of residual crude was obtained.

• Assignee: Continental Oil Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3366174
• OSTI ID: 7299548
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ALCOHOLS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ESTERS
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM SULFONATES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SULFONATES
SULFONIC ACID ESTERS
SURFACTANTS
WATERFLOODING
WELLS