Process for oil recovery using mixed surfactant composition

Abstract

A process for the recovery of oil from subterranean reservoirs by injecting an aqueous fluid containing from about 0.05 to about 2.0% by weight of a bi-functional surfactant or a mixture of surfactants containing one or more of the following structures;Optionally the aqueous fluid may contain mixtures of individual surfactants having carboxylic, and sulfonate or sulfate functionalities. The remainder of the composition includes water or brine, a cosolvent and optionally a viscosity control agent, and optionally an alkali.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is based on provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 773,398 filed on Feb. 16, 2006.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableDESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX[0003]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]The present invention relates to a process for the recovery of oil from subterranean oil bearing reservoirs, and more particularly the present invention is to improved oil recovery operations involving the injection into reservoirs of a composition containing mixtures of surfactants containing a weak anionic functionality group and a strong anionic functionality group.[0005]In the recovery of oil from subterranean reservoirs it usually is possible to recover approximately 15%-20% of the original oil in place by primary recovery. Secondary recovery methods such as well stimulation or water flooding are applied after the amount of oil recovered by primary recovery becomes uneconomi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020]The ratio of the weak to strong anionic functionality groups is determined by the characteristics of the crude oil, the brine, temperature and the type of formation in which they are to be used. The final composition is formulated so that it is compatible with the brine and enhances the recovery of oil under the bottom hole conditions.

[0031]An objective of the present invention is to provide a process for the recovery of oil from subterranean reservoirs using surfactant composition to improved oil recovery that is effective over a wide range of electrolyte and divalent anion concentrations.

[0032]Another objective of the present invention is to provide a process for the recovery of oil from subterranean reservoirs using a surfactant composition to improved oil recovery with minimum adsorption onto the formation.

[0037]Increasing the Capillary Number to a value above 10−3 has been shown to result in a substantial increase in the recovery of trapped oil after waterflooding has become ineffective (Basic Concepts in Enhanced Oil Recover Processes, p 108). The viscosity and the velocity cannot be increased substantially without damaging the reservoir, however, the IFT can easily be reduced 3 to 4 orders of magnitude by the proper choice of surfactant. Thus a surfactant can reduce the IFT between an oil and an aqueous medium from 3-30 mN / m to less than 10−2 mN / m resulting in an increase in the capillary number to greater than 10−2 and improve the oil recovery.

Problems solved by technology

Secondary recovery methods such as well stimulation or water flooding are applied after the amount of oil recovered by primary recovery becomes uneconomical.

The problem with many of the presently used surfactants in tertiary oil recovery is that they are incompatible with the brines containing high TDS and divalent cations that are often found at the injection site.

Costly water treatment processes or using an alternate fresh water source makes the tertiary recovery process economically unfeasible in many cases.

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