Method of desorbing surfactant and reusing it in flooding water

Patent · Mon Oct 27 23:00:00 EST 1969

OSTI ID:7301173

Hurd, B G

Surfactant adsorption can be reduced by injection of surfactants in saline flooding water. A surfactant is injected into a formation dissolved in floodwater of a given salinity. The second surfactant is injected as a slug of less-saline water than the first. In the first case, the surfactant is adsorbed onto the reservoir matrix. The second, lower-salinity surfactant slug then desorbs the first surfactant which builds up a second surfactant bank thus improving recovery. Petronate L and Pyronate 50 petroleum sulfonates are injected in saline solutions accompanied by sodium carbonate and sodium tripolyphosphate to retard adsorption as well as Kelzan, a polysaccharide, to increase viscosity. Laboratory studies using sand packs of Loma Novia sand recovered 26 percent more oil using the dual salinity system than a single surfactant flood.

• Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 3474864
• OSTI ID: 7301173
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ADSORPTION
DESORPTION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ESTERS
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM SULFONATES
SAND
SORPTION
SULFONATES
SULFONIC ACID ESTERS
SURFACTANTS
WATERFLOODING
WELLS