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U.S. Department of Energy
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Imparting in situ stability to displacing fluids

Patent ·
OSTI ID:7299588

In order to better stabilize the displacing fluid used in secondary-type recovery, a liquid preslug containing a water soluble semipolar compound or electrolyte is injected into the formation. Laboratory tests were performed on Berea sandstone cores and the following sequence of injection was derived: (1) an aqueous preslug of water soluble semipolar organic compound and electrolyte; the preslug may consist of a solution of sodium chloride and isopropanol; (2) a micellar solution comprised of hydrocarbon, water, surfactant (e.g. ammonium petroleum sulfonate having an average molecular weight of 450), semipolar compound, and electrolyte; (3) mobility buffer of polysaccharides or polyacrylamides; and (4) drive fluid which can be either hydrocarbon or aqueous. Recoveries from core flooding tests ranged up to 93.6 percent of the crude in the core.

Assignee:
Marathon Oil Co.
Patent Number(s):
US 3605894
OSTI ID:
7299588
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English