Process for recovering hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation

Patent · Tue Mar 11 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5630171

Alston, R B; Braden, W B; Flournoy, K H

A method is described for transporting heavy crude oil through a pipeline which involves introducing into a pipeline or well-bore with the viscous hydrocarbons an aqueous solution containing (1) a sulfonate surfactant, (2) a rosin soap or a naphthenic acid soap and, optionally (3) coupling agent whereby there is spontaneously formed a low viscosity, salt tolerant, oil-in-water emulsion. Also disclosed is a method of recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon bearing formation employing an aqueous solution containing (1) a sulfonate surfactant, (2) a rosin soap or a naphthenic acid soap and, optionally (3) a coupling agent.

• Assignee: Texaco Inc
• Patent Number(s): US 4192755
• OSTI ID: 5630171
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 24 Jul 1978; Other Information: PAT-APPL-927328
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
OIL WELLS
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
PETROLEUM
TRANSPORT
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
HYDROCARBONS
INJECTION WELLS
PIPELINES
SOAPS
SULFONATES
SURFACTANTS
VISCOSITY
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
MIXTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
SOLUTIONS
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
022000 - Petroleum- Transport
Handling
& Storage