Flooding method for recovering petroleum employing aqueous solution of hydrocarbon sulfonate

Patent · Tue Mar 03 04:00:00 EST 1970

OSTI ID:7301199

Murphy, C

An aqueous solution containing a hydrocarbon (e.g., petroleum) sulfonate, not more than 0.5 percent by weight sodium chloride, and 2-20 percent sodium carbonate (sodium tripolyphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, or sodium borate) was proposed for enhanced oil recovery. The degree of sulfonation of the hydrocarbon sulfonate should be adjusted until a minimum in the value of the interfacial tension between solution and oil is attained. The addition of sodium chloride to the solution also lowers the interfacial tension. Adsorption of the sulfonate onto the reservoir rock is reduced by sodium carbonate or other agents. An aqueous preflush should be used, if necessary, to match the reservoir environment to the surfactant flood. An aqueous buffer should follow the surfactant solution if the driving fluid does not match the salinity (or hardness) of the flood.

• Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 3498379
• OSTI ID: 7301199
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ESTERS
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MIXTURES
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM SULFONATES
SODIUM CARBONATES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SOLUTIONS
SULFONATES
SULFONIC ACID ESTERS
SURFACTANTS
WATERFLOODING
WELLS