Oil recovery by alkaline-surfactant waterflooding
This patent covers recovery of oil from subterranean oil reservoirs by waterflooding employing an alkaline agent and a sulfonate surfactant. An aqueous initiation slug containing an alkaline agent selected from the group consisting of alkali metal and ammonium hydroxides is injected into the reservoir via a suitable injection system. Thereafter an aqueous surfactant slug is injected into the reservoir behind the initiation slug. The surfactant slug contains a sulfonate surfactant and an alkaline agent. Subsequent to injection of the surfactant slug, an aqueous flooding medium is injected in order to displace the oil within the reservoir to a production system from which it is recovered. A portion of the flooding medium may contain a thickening agent for mobility control purposes. 18 claims, 30 figures.
- Assignee:
- Mobil Oil Corp.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4004638
- OSTI ID:
- 7315995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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