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Secondary recovery method using non-ionic surfactant mixtures

Patent ·
OSTI ID:7299573

A water-soluble nonionic aryl surfactant and a relatively water-insoluble, oil-soluble nonionic aryl surfactant dissolved in brine solution containing about 1M sodium chloride or calcium chloride was used for enhanced oil recovery. The water-soluble surfactant, Triton-X-100, was an octylphenol-ethylene oxide reaction product with an average of 10 ethylene oxide units. Triton X-45, the oil-soluble surfactant, was an octyl phenol-ethylene oxide reaction product with 5 ethylene oxide units. Sand packs (3.5 darcies) which contained a typical reservoir crude at waterflood oil residual concentration were flooded with the surfactants in brine. Only 1.5 PV slug produced almost all of the residual oil, leaving about 2 percent PV. Other surfactant systems which will tolerate a sodium chloride or calcium chloride brine were listed.

Assignee:
Shell Oil Co.
Patent Number(s):
US 3455386
OSTI ID:
7299573
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English