Miscible-type recovery process using foam as a mobility buffer

Patent · Tue Mar 14 04:00:00 EST 1972

OSTI ID:7299599

Earlougher, R C

A micellar dispersion followed by foam and drive water is a method to recover oil. A liquid mobility buffer slug can precede or follow the foam. The surfactant in the micellar dispersion is ammonium petroleum sulfonate. Dow Pusher 530 is the thickener in the mobility buffer. The foam is composed of O.K. Liquid (modified ammonium alkyl sulfate), water and nitrogen. Berea sandstone cores (300 to 750 md, about 18 to 21 percent porosity) were saturated with water, flooded with crude oil, and then waterflooded to about 35 to 60 percent residual oil saturation. Treatment with the micellar dispersion, then the mobility buffer, foam, and drive water gave an additional yield of about 45 to 30 percent original oil in place.

• Assignee: Marathon Oil Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3648772
• OSTI ID: 7299599
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
COLLOIDS
CONTROL
DISPERSIONS
EMULSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ESTERS
FLUID INJECTION
FOAMS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MICROEMULSIONS
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
MOBILITY
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM SULFONATES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SULFONATES
SULFONIC ACID ESTERS
WELLS