Oxygenated Coupling Solvents for Enhanced Oil Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for improved compositions and methods for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in high temperature reservoirs, particularly for recycling and reusing chemical compounds and produced water, as existing methods are inefficient and lack effective solvents that can adapt to varying temperatures.

Innovation Solution

The use of oxygenated coupling solvents, characterized by water immiscibility at reservoir temperatures, is employed to form an aqueous mixture with water for injection into the reservoir, allowing for miscibility with hydrocarbons and subsequent recycling of the solvent after oil recovery, enabling increased oil recovery and solvent reuse.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If oxygenated coupling solvent is used for enhanced oil recovery in high temperature reservoirs, then oil recovery efficiency is improved, but solvent separation and recycling becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil recovery efficiencyVSAvoidsolvent separation and recycling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention utilizes temperature-dependent phase behavior of oxygenated coupling solvents. The solvent is injected at reservoir temperature where it remains miscible with hydrocarbons for effective recovery, then upon cooling to surface temperature, it undergoes phase separation to become water-miscible, enabling automatic recycling without additional separation equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention exploits the phase transition of oxygenated coupling solvents between miscible and immiscible states based on temperature changes. At high reservoir temperatures, the solvent is miscible with hydrocarbons; at lower surface temperatures, it becomes water-miscible, allowing automatic phase separation and recycling without complex additional equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Productivity

If chemical compounds are injected into the reservoir for tertiary recovery, then trapped oil is freed and recovery is enhanced, but chemical compounds remain underground and cannot be recovered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenhanced oil recoveryVSAvoidchemical compound loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention enables recovery and recycling of the oxygenated coupling solvent after it has performed its function of freeing trapped oil. The solvent is injected into the reservoir to enhance recovery, then upon returning to surface temperature, it automatically separates and can be recovered for reuse, eliminating permanent loss of the chemical compound

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Productivity

If conventional solvents are used in waterflooding operations, then oil displacement is achieved, but the solvents cannot be easily recycled and require additional equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrocarbon displacementVSAvoidsolvent recycling operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The oxygenated coupling solvent performs self-service by automatically separating from the aqueous phase upon cooling to surface temperature. This self-separation behavior eliminates the need for additional separation equipment or complex recycling operations, making the process easy to operate and maintain

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enhances oil recovery by up to 50% additional oil recovery and allows for solvent recycling without the need for additional equipment, reducing operating costs and improving the efficiency of EOR processes in high temperature reservoirs.

Implementation Method 1

the oxygenated coupling solvent is water immiscible at the reservoir temperature and therefore miscible with the hydrocarbons at the reservoir temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMiscibility:

Implementation Method 2

taking advantage of their miscible and immiscible phase behavior in water as a function of temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature-dependent phase behavior: Phase Change

Implementation Method 3

injecting the aqueous mixture into the reservoir to displace the hydrocarbons with the aqueous mixture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid displacement:

Implementation Method 4

separating the recovered produced water at a temperature that is below the reservoir temperature, where at least a portion of the oxygenated coupling solvent in the recovered produced water remains water miscible

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature-dependent phase separation: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentUS10851629B2Enhanced oil recovery compositions and methods thereof

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 CHEVRON USA INC

AI summary

Additional oil recovery is obtained from a reservoir with a composition comprising at least a coupling solvent typically employed in waterborne coating compositions. Provided herein are embodiments of methods of recovering hydrocarbons using at least one coupling solvent, such as an oxygenated coupling solvent. The coupling solvent increases the mutual solubility with water at the injection temperature to facilitate the mixing and injection, particularly with an optional co-solvent. The coupling solvent helps mitigate formation plugging and improve performance when injected into a formation, as the solvent mixture moves from being miscible in the injection field water to being miscible in the reservoir oil, mobilizing the reservoir oil to increase oil recovery.