Increasing subterranean mobilization of organic contaminants and petroleum by aqueous thermal oxidation

Patent · 01 January 2002

OSTI ID:874424

Leif, Roald N ^[1]; Knauss, Kevin G ^[2]; Newmark, Robin L ^[2]; Aines, Roger D ^[2]; Eaker, Craig ^[3]

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1. San Francisco, CA
2. Livermore, CA
3. Alta Loma, CA

In situ hydrous pyrolysis/partial oxidation of organics at the site of the organics constrained in an subsurface reservoir produces surfactants that can form an oil/water emulsion that is effectively removed from an underground formation. The removal of the oil/water emulsions is particularly useful in several applications, e.g., soil contaminant remediation and enhanced oil recovery operations. A portion of the constrained organics react in heated reservoir water with injected steam containing dissolved oxygen gas at ambient reservoir conditions to produce such surfactants.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6387278
• OSTI ID: 874424
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/210/166/405/
ambient
applications
aqueous
conditions
constrained
containing
contaminant
contaminants
dissolved
effectively
emulsion
emulsions
enhanced
form
formation
gas
heated
hydrous
increasing
injected
mobilization
oil
oilwater
operations
organic
organics
oxidation
oxygen
oxygen gas
partial oxidation
petroleum
portion
produce
produces
pyrolysispartial
react
recovery
remediation
removal
removed
reservoir
site
situ
soil
steam
subsurface
subterranean
surfactants
thermal
thermal oxidation
underground
useful
water