In situ generation of steam and alkaline surfactant for enhanced oil recovery using an exothermic water reactant (EWR)
Abstract
A method for oil recovery whereby an exothermic water reactant (EWR) encapsulated in a water soluble coating is placed in water and pumped into one or more oil wells in contact with an oil bearing formation. After the water carries the EWR to the bottom of the injection well, the water soluble coating dissolves and the EWR reacts with the water to produce heat, an alkali solution, and hydrogen. The heat from the EWR reaction generates steam, which is forced into the oil bearing formation where it condenses and transfers heat to the oil, elevating its temperature and decreasing the viscosity of the oil. The aqueous alkali solution mixes with the oil in the oil bearing formation and forms a surfactant that reduces the interfacial tension between the oil and water. The hydrogen may be used to react with the oil at these elevated temperatures to form lighter molecules, thus upgrading to a certain extent the oil in situ. As a result, the oil can flow more efficiently and easily through the oil bearing formation towards and into one or more production wells.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1018040
- Patent Number(s):
- 7946342
- Application Number:
- 12/432,793
- Assignee:
- The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
C - CHEMISTRY C09 - DYES C09K - MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-05ID14517
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Citation Formats
Robertson, Eric P. In situ generation of steam and alkaline surfactant for enhanced oil recovery using an exothermic water reactant (EWR). United States: N. p., 2011.
Web.
Robertson, Eric P. In situ generation of steam and alkaline surfactant for enhanced oil recovery using an exothermic water reactant (EWR). United States.
Robertson, Eric P. Tue .
"In situ generation of steam and alkaline surfactant for enhanced oil recovery using an exothermic water reactant (EWR)". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1018040.
@article{osti_1018040,
title = {In situ generation of steam and alkaline surfactant for enhanced oil recovery using an exothermic water reactant (EWR)},
author = {Robertson, Eric P},
abstractNote = {A method for oil recovery whereby an exothermic water reactant (EWR) encapsulated in a water soluble coating is placed in water and pumped into one or more oil wells in contact with an oil bearing formation. After the water carries the EWR to the bottom of the injection well, the water soluble coating dissolves and the EWR reacts with the water to produce heat, an alkali solution, and hydrogen. The heat from the EWR reaction generates steam, which is forced into the oil bearing formation where it condenses and transfers heat to the oil, elevating its temperature and decreasing the viscosity of the oil. The aqueous alkali solution mixes with the oil in the oil bearing formation and forms a surfactant that reduces the interfacial tension between the oil and water. The hydrogen may be used to react with the oil at these elevated temperatures to form lighter molecules, thus upgrading to a certain extent the oil in situ. As a result, the oil can flow more efficiently and easily through the oil bearing formation towards and into one or more production wells.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2011},
month = {5}
}