CA1132452A - Lignosulfanates as additives in oil recovery processes involving chemical recovery agents - Google Patents
Lignosulfanates as additives in oil recovery processes involving chemical recovery agentsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1132452A CA1132452A CA330,458A CA330458A CA1132452A CA 1132452 A CA1132452 A CA 1132452A CA 330458 A CA330458 A CA 330458A CA 1132452 A CA1132452 A CA 1132452A
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- solution
- injection well
- lignosulfonates
- formation
- oil
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
- C09K8/60—Compositions for stimulating production by acting on the underground formation
- C09K8/602—Compositions for stimulating production by acting on the underground formation containing surfactants
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
- C09K8/58—Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids
- C09K8/584—Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids characterised by the use of specific surfactants
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
- C09K8/58—Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids
- C09K8/588—Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids characterised by the use of specific polymers
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
- C09K8/60—Compositions for stimulating production by acting on the underground formation
- C09K8/607—Compositions for stimulating production by acting on the underground formation specially adapted for clay formations
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A process for producing petroleum from subterranean formations is disclosed wherein production from the formation is obtained by driving a fluid from an injection well to a production well. The process involves injecting via the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of lignosulfonate salt as a sacrificial agent to inhibit the deposition of surfactant and/or polymer on the reservoir matrix. The process may best be carried out by injecting the lignosulfonates into the formation through the injection well mixed with either a polymer or surfactant solution and/or a micellar dispersion. This mixture would then be followed by a drive fluid such as water to push the chemicals to the production well. The surfactant solution comprises a mixture of petroleum sulfonate and an alkyl benzene alkoxylated sulfonate. In another embodiment, the surfactant solution comprises sulfonated alkoxylated alkyl surfactants and/or alkyl benzene alkoxylated sulfonates.
A process for producing petroleum from subterranean formations is disclosed wherein production from the formation is obtained by driving a fluid from an injection well to a production well. The process involves injecting via the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of lignosulfonate salt as a sacrificial agent to inhibit the deposition of surfactant and/or polymer on the reservoir matrix. The process may best be carried out by injecting the lignosulfonates into the formation through the injection well mixed with either a polymer or surfactant solution and/or a micellar dispersion. This mixture would then be followed by a drive fluid such as water to push the chemicals to the production well. The surfactant solution comprises a mixture of petroleum sulfonate and an alkyl benzene alkoxylated sulfonate. In another embodiment, the surfactant solution comprises sulfonated alkoxylated alkyl surfactants and/or alkyl benzene alkoxylated sulfonates.
Description
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BACKGROUND OF THE I NVENT I ON
Field of_the Invention This invention relates to the recovery of oil from subterranean formations by chemical 100ding methods.
Description of the Prior ~rt Petroleum is fre~uently recovered from subter-ranean formations or reservoirs by permitting the natural energy of the reservoir to push the petroleum up through wells to the surface of the earth. These processes are referred to as primary recovery methods since they use the natural energy of the reservoir. However, a large amount of oil, generally in the range of 65-90% or more, is left in the subterranean formation at the conclusion of the primary recovery program. When the natural reservolr energy is unable to produce more petroleum, it is a common practice to resort to some form of supplemental recovery technique in order to recover additional petroleum left in the sub : .
terranean formation. These supplemental operations are normally referred to as secondary recovery operations. If this supplemental recovery operation is the second in a series of such operations, it will be referred to as a tertiary recovery operation. ~owever, the terminology is unimportant for the purposes of this application and relates only to the sequence in which they are carried out.
The most widely used supplemental recovery tech-ni~ue because of its ease of implementation and low capital outlay is water flooding through injection wells drilled into the subterranean forrnation. In a water flooding operation, the injected fluid displaces oil throu~h the formation to be produced from the injection well. A major disadvantage to ~3~5Z
water flooding, however, is its relatively poor displacement efficiency largely due ~o the fact that water and oil are immiscible at reservoir conditions and high interfacial tension exists between the flood water and the oil. For this ~', ; 5 reason, after a water flood, a large por-tion of the oil is still left unrecovered in the reservoir.
~- It has been recognized by those skilled in the art that a solution affecting a reduction in this interfacial tension between water and oil would provide a much more efficient recovery m~chanism. Therefore, the inclusion of a surface active agent or surfactant in the flood water was recognized as an acceptable technique for promoting dis~
placement efficiency of the rese~voir oil by the water. For example, U.S. Pa-tent No. 3,468,377 discloses the use of petroleum sulfonates in water flooding operations and U.S.
Patent No. 3,553,130 discloses the use of ethylene oxide adducts of alkyl phenols for the same purpose. The use in wate~ flooding operations of water soluble surface active alkaline earth resistant polyglycol ethers is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,233,381. Other specialized surfactants, as will be discussed later, have been discovered to have special properties useful in water flooding operations such as a tolerance for high salinity and calcium, and/or magnesium ion ; concentrations often found in reservoir waters.
However, field opera-tions employing surfactants and surface active agents in injected fluid have not always been entirely satisfactory due to the fact that these materials are often adsorbed by the formation rock to a relatively high degree, resulting in an ever declining concentration of the materials as they progress through the , ~2~5;2 reservoir. Therefore, large concentrations of surface active materials have hereto~ore been necessary to maintain a sufficient concentratlon at the oil-water interface. Due to this, many proposed flooding operations involving surface active materials have been uneconomical.
Another serious problem for any recovery technique ~; involving the driving of oil with a fluid is premature breakthrough of the injection fluid. This premature break-through indicates that the reservoir has not been adequately swept of oil. The problem is often described in terms of sweep efficiency as distinguished from the displacement efficiency described above. Displacement efficiency involves a microscopic pore by Fore efficiency by which water dls-places oil, whereas sweep efficiency is related to the growth portion of the reservoir which is swept and unswept by the injected fluid. A major cause o:E poor sweep efficiency is associated with ~he fact that the injected 1uid generally has a lower viscosity than the displaced fluid or petroleum.
Thus, the injected fluid has a higher mobility and tends to finger through the oil thus prematurely breaking through to the production well.
The solution to this high mobility problem is to increase the viscosity of the driving fluid. One way to do this is to add polymeric organic materials to a driving water which has the eff~ct o increasing the viscosi~y of the water, thereby increasing the sweep efficiency of the supple-mantal recovery process. U.S. Patent No. 3,039,529 and U.S.
Patent No. 3,282,337 teach the use of aqueous polyacrylamide solutions to increase the viscosity of the injected fluid thereby promoting increased sweep efficiency.
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Polysaccharides as taught in U.S. 3,581,824 have been used for the same purpose. These polymers are guite expensive and any pol~mer lost to adsorption on the reservoir matrix adds substantially to the cosk since additional polymer is required to maintain a given viscosity.
The above described problems have been recognized ~;by those skilled in the art of oil recovery and certain :
sacrificial compounds have been added to pretreat the formation in order to decrease the adsorption of subse~uently injected surfactants and/or polymers. For example, U.S.
3,414,054 discloses the use of agueous solu-tions of pyridine;
U.S. 3,469,630 discloses the use of sodium carbonate and inorgani~ polyphosphates, and U.S. 3,437,141 discloses the use of soluble carbonates, inorganic polyphosphates and `~15 sodium borate in combination wi.th saline solution of a surfactant having both a high and a low molecular weight component. These materials have not been completely satis~
factory from a standpoint of performance and economics ;
~- however.
U.S. Patent No. 3,384,171 to Parker discloses that lignosulfonates may be used as a pre1ush followed by a surfactant solution. T~hile this method provides an improve-ment over using surfactant alone, my invention provides an unexpected improvement in oil recovery over the process of Parker.
U.S. Patent 3,700,031 refers to lignosulfonate as a sacrificial agent for alkylaryl sulfonate.
SUMMAR~ OF THE INVENTION
,: .
The in~ention is a process of producing petroleum from subterranean formation having an injection well and a .~ .
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production well in cor~mmication therewith. The process comprises injecting into the formation via the injection well an aqueous solution of lignosulfonate salts in admixture with a chemical oil recovery agent, for example, surfactant, S polymer and/or a micellar dispersion thereby displacing oil from the subterranean foxmation to the surface of the earth.
The surfactant solutions useful herein are alkyl benzene ~ alkoxylated sulfonates and/or sulfates, sulfonated or - sulfated alkoxylated alkyl surfactants, mixtures of petroleum sulfonates and alkyl benzene alkoxylated sulfonates or sulfates. Also useful are mixtures of petroleum sulfonates and alkoxylated alkyl sulfonates or sulfate or, mixtures of petroleum sulfonates and alkoxylated organic alcohols or organic alcohols and petroleum sulfonates alone. It is the usual practice to then inject a fluid such as water to sweep the chemical components through the reservoir to the production well, thereby displacing oil from the subterranean ormation to the surface of the earth.
DESCRIPTION OF ~HE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A sacrificial material is injected by the process of this invention through an i~jeation means comprising one or more injection wells into a subterranean petroleum-containing ~ormation to preferably occupy or cover all po-tential adsorption sites of the rock within the subterranean formation thereby reducing the extent of adsorption of the more expensive chemical oil recovery agent injected therebehind. A sacrificial agent performs best when it exhibits high adsorption on active sites of rock surfaces, ; and thus diminishes surfactant and/or polymer adosrption.
Chemical compounds of polyelectrolytic nature have the proper ~3~
physico chemical and structural re~uirernents to behave as successful sacrificial agents. The functional groups on the sacrificial agent molecules enhance adsorption either by hydrogen bonding or electrostatic attraction to active sites on the rock surfaces.
A satisfactory sacrificial material has at least three important characteristics. First, it should be les5 expensive than the surfactant on cost effectiveness basis since it is to be sacrificed or adsorbed by the formation, probably not to be recovered. Next, it must be adsorbed readily by the subterranean formation matrix. Preferably the sacrificial material should be adsorbed more readily than the chemical oil recovery agent to be used in the process. The third important characteristic of a sacrificial agent is -that the presence of such adsorbed sacrificial material should retard or eliminate adsorption of the surfactant and/or polymer chemical recovery material on the adsorption site of the formation rock. By adsorption sites of the formation rock is meant those parts of the surfaces of the pores of the formation rock capable of adsorbing a chemical compound from a solution on contact.
The sacrificial material may not have a detrimental effect on the recovery efficiency of the chemical flooding operation. Additional oil is usually recovered only if the sacrificial material is followed by or is admixed with a surfactant and/or a polymer chemical recovery agent which will effectively increase the amount of oil displaced from the subterranean formation.
Typical examples of suitable polymers include polyacrylamides having from about 0 to about 75% of the amide -~ groups hydrolyzed to carboxyla-te groups. It is preferred to have from about O to 30% of the amide group hydrolyzed to carboxylate groups. Especially preferred is a polyacrylamide of greater than 6 million molecular weight and approximately 5% of the amide groups hydrolyzed. Polysaccharides are also polymers useful in my invention. For example, a co~nercially available material is Kelzan MF (a xanthan gum produced by the action of the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris). Modi-fications of polysaccharides to increase their ionic character will make them even more useful in my invention.
Another type of polymer useful in my invention are water soluble starch derivatives containing carboxyl sulfonate or sulfate groups in the form of sodium or ammonium salts. Other useful polymers include but are ~ot limited to soluble cellulose derivatives, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly(acrylic acid3, poly(ethylene oxide), polyethyleneimine and colloidal silica. This listing is not exhaustive. various other pol~ners may be used without ;, departing from the scope and spirit of my in~ention.
The amount of polymeric material which must be employed in the practice of any chemical flood is generally known in the art and is to be found in published literature.
However, the slug siæe of polymer generally will range from about O.1 to 2 pore volumes of an aqueous polymer solution having di~solved therein from about O.Ol-to about 0.5 percent ~; by weight of the polymer itself.
In my invention, the sacrificial agent i5 injected ahead of or in admixture with the polymeric material. A
surfactant may be mixed with the sacrificial agent and/or the -~ 30 polymer~
~3~
The suractants useful in my invention comprise an aqueous solution of alkyl benzene alkoxylated sulfonates or ~: sulfates having the following general formulae: -R
~ O ~ - (OcH~cH)xso3 M (I) (0C~2CH~x0S03 M (II) where Rl and R~ are h~drogen or alkyl with ak least one being -~ an alkyl group of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, x is a number from 1 to 10, - M+ is a cation select~d from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium, and ammonium, R3 is either -CH3 or hydrogen.
I Other surfactants useful in my invention comprise an aqueous solution of sulfonated or sulated alko~ylated alkyl surfactants having one of the following general - 20 formulae R1(0CH2lH~xs03 (III) or Rl~0~H2lH)Xoso3 M (IV) where R1 is an alkyl group of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R2 is either CH3 of hydrogen, and x is a number from 1 to 10.
Other useful surfactants comprise an aqueous solution of a mixture of petroleum sulfonates and solubili~ers or formulas I IV above.
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Also, petroleum sulfonate or a mixture of petroleum ;~ sulfonate and a water soluble organic alcohol or a mixture of petroleum sulfonate and an organic alcohol which has been alkoxylated and which displays amphiphilic properties are 5 useful.
The amount of surfactant which must be employed in the practice of any chemical flood is generally known in the art and is to be found in published literature. Howe~er, the slug size of surfactant generally will range from about 0.01 to 1 pore volumes of an aqueous surfactant solution having dissolved therein from about 0.01 to about 10.0 percent by - weight of the surfactant itself.
one embodiment o~ my invention is the use of an ~ aqueous solution of modified lignosulfonate in a slug ahead -~ 15 of or in admixture with ~n a~euous solution of polymer used to drive oil from an injection well to a production well.
In another embodiment of this inventio~, a sacri-- ficial material comprising liynosulfonate salts, is injected ` via the suitable injection means, i.e. through one or more injection wells completed in the subterranean hydrocarbon formation, in admixture with a surfactant solution followed by a solution oX polymer. By injectin~ the sacrificial material and surfactant ~ogether followed by polymer oil recovery is maximized.
Another embodiment of my invention is the use of modified lignosulfonates in conjunction with an emulsion of water, hydrocarbon and surfactant, i.e., a micellar dis-persion. The same parameters as discussed above for simple aqueous surfactant solutions would apply to micellar dis-persions. Micellar dispersions are known in the art.
3Z~52 The sacrificial agents useful in the process of my invention are lignosulfonate salts. Lignosul~onates are anionic polyelectrolytes soluble in water and tolerate hard water (polyvalent ions, e.g. calcium and magnesium). They are also thermally stable in formations where the temperature is high. Lignosulfonates are macromolecules built up by complex condensation of phenyl propane units. The sulfonate groups are attached to the aliphatic side chain, mainly to alpha carbon. Lignosulfonates are water soluble with molecu-lar weights ranging from several thousand to about 50,000 or more. They are economically attractive since being by-products of the pulping industry, they are plentiful and cost ~ .
less than either the surfactants or the polymers used in enhanced oil recovery methods. The polyelectrolyte lignosulfonates with strongly ionized sulfonate groups are - negatively charged species and have a tendency to adsorb on solid surfaces thereby imparting a negative charge to them.
The rock surfaces of a reservoir ~reated with lignosulfonates will be inert towards the anionic surfactants in the flood .. . .
water and thereore loss of surfactants to the rock surfaces will be kept to a minimum. The same phenomenon will occur with the poI~mer thickened drive fluid. ;
Lignin is second only to cellulose as the principal ~; constituent in wood. Generally, lignin is a complex phenolic polyether containing many different functional groups in-cluding carbo~yls, carbonyls, and alcoholic and phenolic hydroxyls. Lignins and their derivatives are described in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Second ;; ' .
-10~
31 ~32~5;~
Edition, Vol. 12, beginning at page 362. This publication describes two very broad classes of lignin derivatives:
sulfite lignins and alkali lignins.
The difference in the lignins exists because of the method of extraction of lignin material from woody materials.
Sulfonated alkali lignins are readily available commercially from various sources including but not limited to West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company under the trade name REAX
80's. Their general method of preparation is described in the Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology referred to above.
Briefly, sulfonated alkali lignins are prepared by cooking woodchips with a 10% solution of a mixture of sodium hydroxide with about 20 mole p~rcent of sodium sulfide. The lignin with wood is modified into a sodium compound often termed sodium lignate or alkali l:i~nin which is very solubIe in the strongly alkaline solution. These alkali lignlns are removed from solution by lowering the pH whlch precipitates out ~he alkali lignins. These unsulfonated alkali lignins are sold under various tradenames including I~DULIN. These alkali lignins are used to prepare the sulfonated derivatives. Methods of sulfonation are known by those skilled in the art. One typical method involves treating the alkali lignins with a solution of alkali sulfites at elevated tempexature and pressure. The degree of sulfonation may be controlled to provide a variety of sulfonated alkali lignins.
The other main type of lignin derivatives are called sulfite lignins or sulfite lignosulfonates. Sulfite - lignins are generally made by cooking woodchips under pressure in a solution of sulfurous acid and calcium, magnesium, sodium or ammonium bisulfite. This process 5~
; converts insoluble lignins to soluble llgnosulfonic acid.
The lignosulfonic acids or calcium, magnesium, sodium or ammonium salts of the lignosulfonic acids are available under various tradenames including MARASPERSE, LIGNOSITE, ORZAN, TORANIL, and RAYFL0.
The broad term lignosulfonates used herein refers to both sulfonated alkali lignins and sulfite lignosulfonates ~; (sulfite lignins). These are distinct types of compounds as ; explained above. Since the alkali lignins reguire sulfonation after extraction of the material from woody - products it is proper to call them sulfonated alkali lignins.
Likewise since sulfite llgnins emerge from the extraction ~i ~ process already sulfonated it is proper to refer to this :, ~
class of materials as sulfite lignins or sulfite lignosulfonates.
- Modified sulfonated alkali lignins and sulfite lignosulfonates, such as those with ring sulfomethylation, oxidation, ethoxylation, formaldehyde condensation, phenolation, and/or carbo~ylation are also useful as sacrificial agents. Lignosulfonates having degrees of sulfonation from about 2.0 to saturation are acceptable for my invention. Cations which are acceptable include Na , K , MH4 , Ca and Mg . The degree of sulfonation is the weight percentage of sulfonate (S03 ~ compared to the total molecular weight.
The quantity of sacrificial lignosulfonate materials to be injected into the subterranean hydrocarbon formation may be any amount up to and including an amount sufficient to occupy substantially all of the active sites of the formation matrix. If less than the maximum amount is ~12-~13~
used, there will be a corresponding increase in the adsorption of chemical recovery agent from injection solution onto the formation matrix although the amount of increase will not be as great as in the case where the formation is completely free of sacrificial lignosulfonate salts. At a maximum, only the amount of sulfonate salts needed to completely occupy the active sites on the for~ation is needed. The detriment resulting from using excess lignosulfonate salt would be an increase in the cost of operating the oil recovery program.
The amount of sacri~icial lignosulfonate salts needed in the process of the i~vention depends on the par-ticular formation, the area or pattern to be swept and other formation characteristics. Those skilled in the axt can determine -the exact quantity néeded to afford the desired amount of protection.
The effectiveness of this invention for reducing , ~ , the adsorption of surfactant or polymer on formation rock and chemical flooding operations is demonstrated by the following examples which are presented by way of illustration and are not intended as limiting the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
EXPERIMENTAL
(When tradenames are used, their chemical com-position is defined at Table X following.) Various lignosulfonates and derivates were tested to determine whether they will improve the efficiency of oil recovery of a surfactant system from a pack.
Crushed Slaughter cores were used in limestone packs to study the ability of lignosulfonates to improve the ~13-45;~
efficiency of surfactant systems to recovery tertiary oil rom packs. The packs had water permeabilities of about 17 darcies and porosities about 0.5. The floods were performed under similar conditions using an injection rate equivalent to a frontal advance of about 15 ft/day.
The packs were initially saturated with field water (Mallet water, 70,000 ppm Total Dissolved ~olids) and with Slaughter crude oil. They were then water flooded with Mallet water to a residual oil saturation. The surfactant slug was then injected followed by a solution of polymer.
After polymer injection water flooding was resumed until completion of the flood. The results of the tests are summarized in Tables I, II, III, IV and V. Table X gi~es a chemical description of materials used. In the discussion, the tradenames are used for convenience.
Different types of lignosulfonates were incorporated in a dual surfactant system ~0.4% Sulframin 1240 + 0.6% Sulfonated Surfonic N-40) at 1% concentration (Table I) and the systems were injected in crushed limestone packs.
Tertiary oil recovery of Slaughter crude was determined at 77F. The water composition of simulated Mallet produced water used is given in T~ble V. The surfactant system was injected as a slug (25% P.V.) and was followed by a slug (50%
P.V.) of 0.1% Kelzan MF polymer solution which was driven through by simulated Mallet produced water.
The lignosulfonates listed in Table I co~tributed to additional tertiary oil recovery, which indicated that they can be utilized as sacrificial agents in chemical recovery systems. The selection of the best ca~didate among the lignosulfonates described in Table VI will also depend on !
the saliniky and hardness of water encountered in a particular formation, since these lignosulfonates have different salt tolerance.
Three lignosulfonates were tested as sacrificial agents in chemical recovery floods, where the salinity and hardness of brine used were very high (Table II). The com-position of simulated Bob Slaughter Block connate water used . "
~ is given in Table VII. Tertiary oil recovery was determined - at 77F. The single surfactant system (1% Alipal C0-436 + 1%
lignosulfonate) was injected as a slug (20% P~V) in a crushed limestoné pack saturated with Slaughter crude, and was followed by a slug (50% P.V.) of 0.1% Kelzan MF polymer ~, i ?'` ` solution which was driven through by simulated Bob slaughter Block connate water. All three lignosulfonates contributed to additional tertiary oil recovery.
Two types of sulfonated alkali lignins were tested in chemical recovery systems in crushed limestone packs saturated with Slaughter crude at Mallet water salinity, and their performance has been tabulated in Table III.
The sulfonated alkali lignins were incorporated in ~- a singIe surfactant system [1% sodium dodecyl phenol poly-oxyethylene (4 moles) sulfonate] at 1% concentration, and the systems were injected in crushed limestone packs. The tertiary oil recovery of Slaughter crude was determined at 77F. The surfactant system was injected as a slug (24%
P.V.) and was followed by a slug (50% P.V.) of 0.1% Kelzan MF
polymer solution, which was driven through by simulated Mallet produced water. Both sulfonated alkali lignins con-tributed to additional tertiary oil recovery, which indicated that they can be utilized as sacrificial agents ,~qually well ~; as sulfite lignosulfonates ln chemical recovery systems. The selection of the proper lignin sulfonate as sacrificlal agent will depend on the salinity and hardness of water encoun-tered in a particular formation.
The mineral nature and characteristics of rock ; surfaces in a porous medium play a major role in tertiary oil recovery process when surfactant flooding is employed. In Table IV, clayey sandstone packs were used to determine tertiary oil recovery by a chemical recovery system. The flooding process applied and the conditions in the packs were the same as those given in Table I. It was observed that both i~ the flood containing no lignosulfonate and the ones containing liqnosulfonates recovered less tertiary oil than the corresponding ones performed in crushed limestone packs.
However, as before, the presence of lignosulfonate sacrificial agents increased oil recovery. The presence of clays contributed to lower tertiary oil recovery.
Table V demonstrates the improvement in oil recovery obtained by flooding with a mixture of lignosul -~ 20 fonates and surfactant in an agueous solution over surfactant ; solutions alone as well as a preflush of lignosulfonate followed by surfactant each with polymer injection.
In Case 1, a surfactant solution was injected into a previously water flooded limestone pack. This surfactant solution was followed by a polymer and the polymer was followed by brine water. The tertiary oil recovery by this method was 41 percent. The oil cut, that is, the largest fraction of oil produced with the water, was 22 percent. In Case 2, a solution of lignosul~onates was used as a preflush and was followed by a solution of the same surfactant as used :
in Case 1. This surfactant was followed by the same polymer used in Case 1 and the polymer was followed by water as in Case 1. In Case 2, the tertiary oil recovery was 55 percent ~; and the oil cut was 27 percent.
In Case 3, the surfactant and lignosulfonate were mixed together and injected as a mixture. This mixture was followed by the same polymer used in the previously cases and the polymer was followed by water as in the previous cases.
The tertiary oil recovery for Case 3 was 79 percent and the oil cut was 30 percent. Thus, the unexpected improvement of my invention is demonstrated.
All parameters were controlled as closely as possible to be constant throughout each ~lood. The crushed limestone packs were made to be as similar as possible and, of course, the same fluids were used from case to case where ~; applicable.
Table VI demonstrates the effect o Lignosite 458 on the oil recovery capability of a surfactant system com-.,~
prising two petroleum suIfonates and a solubilizer, which is nonyl phenol ethoxylated with 6 moles of ethylene oxide and sulfonated to the sodium salt followed by polymer. It is noted that the tertiary recovery when the lignosulfonate sacrificial agent is used is 76.9% whereas without the sacrificial agent the tertiary is 62.1%.
Table VII shows the results of a series of com-parative runs wherein various suractants followed by polymer were used in floods in laboratory cores. It is noted that in every case the addition of the lignosulfonate sacrificial agent improved the oil recovery.
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BACKGROUND OF THE I NVENT I ON
Field of_the Invention This invention relates to the recovery of oil from subterranean formations by chemical 100ding methods.
Description of the Prior ~rt Petroleum is fre~uently recovered from subter-ranean formations or reservoirs by permitting the natural energy of the reservoir to push the petroleum up through wells to the surface of the earth. These processes are referred to as primary recovery methods since they use the natural energy of the reservoir. However, a large amount of oil, generally in the range of 65-90% or more, is left in the subterranean formation at the conclusion of the primary recovery program. When the natural reservolr energy is unable to produce more petroleum, it is a common practice to resort to some form of supplemental recovery technique in order to recover additional petroleum left in the sub : .
terranean formation. These supplemental operations are normally referred to as secondary recovery operations. If this supplemental recovery operation is the second in a series of such operations, it will be referred to as a tertiary recovery operation. ~owever, the terminology is unimportant for the purposes of this application and relates only to the sequence in which they are carried out.
The most widely used supplemental recovery tech-ni~ue because of its ease of implementation and low capital outlay is water flooding through injection wells drilled into the subterranean forrnation. In a water flooding operation, the injected fluid displaces oil throu~h the formation to be produced from the injection well. A major disadvantage to ~3~5Z
water flooding, however, is its relatively poor displacement efficiency largely due ~o the fact that water and oil are immiscible at reservoir conditions and high interfacial tension exists between the flood water and the oil. For this ~', ; 5 reason, after a water flood, a large por-tion of the oil is still left unrecovered in the reservoir.
~- It has been recognized by those skilled in the art that a solution affecting a reduction in this interfacial tension between water and oil would provide a much more efficient recovery m~chanism. Therefore, the inclusion of a surface active agent or surfactant in the flood water was recognized as an acceptable technique for promoting dis~
placement efficiency of the rese~voir oil by the water. For example, U.S. Pa-tent No. 3,468,377 discloses the use of petroleum sulfonates in water flooding operations and U.S.
Patent No. 3,553,130 discloses the use of ethylene oxide adducts of alkyl phenols for the same purpose. The use in wate~ flooding operations of water soluble surface active alkaline earth resistant polyglycol ethers is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,233,381. Other specialized surfactants, as will be discussed later, have been discovered to have special properties useful in water flooding operations such as a tolerance for high salinity and calcium, and/or magnesium ion ; concentrations often found in reservoir waters.
However, field opera-tions employing surfactants and surface active agents in injected fluid have not always been entirely satisfactory due to the fact that these materials are often adsorbed by the formation rock to a relatively high degree, resulting in an ever declining concentration of the materials as they progress through the , ~2~5;2 reservoir. Therefore, large concentrations of surface active materials have hereto~ore been necessary to maintain a sufficient concentratlon at the oil-water interface. Due to this, many proposed flooding operations involving surface active materials have been uneconomical.
Another serious problem for any recovery technique ~; involving the driving of oil with a fluid is premature breakthrough of the injection fluid. This premature break-through indicates that the reservoir has not been adequately swept of oil. The problem is often described in terms of sweep efficiency as distinguished from the displacement efficiency described above. Displacement efficiency involves a microscopic pore by Fore efficiency by which water dls-places oil, whereas sweep efficiency is related to the growth portion of the reservoir which is swept and unswept by the injected fluid. A major cause o:E poor sweep efficiency is associated with ~he fact that the injected 1uid generally has a lower viscosity than the displaced fluid or petroleum.
Thus, the injected fluid has a higher mobility and tends to finger through the oil thus prematurely breaking through to the production well.
The solution to this high mobility problem is to increase the viscosity of the driving fluid. One way to do this is to add polymeric organic materials to a driving water which has the eff~ct o increasing the viscosi~y of the water, thereby increasing the sweep efficiency of the supple-mantal recovery process. U.S. Patent No. 3,039,529 and U.S.
Patent No. 3,282,337 teach the use of aqueous polyacrylamide solutions to increase the viscosity of the injected fluid thereby promoting increased sweep efficiency.
-~1.3L3~
~.:
Polysaccharides as taught in U.S. 3,581,824 have been used for the same purpose. These polymers are guite expensive and any pol~mer lost to adsorption on the reservoir matrix adds substantially to the cosk since additional polymer is required to maintain a given viscosity.
The above described problems have been recognized ~;by those skilled in the art of oil recovery and certain :
sacrificial compounds have been added to pretreat the formation in order to decrease the adsorption of subse~uently injected surfactants and/or polymers. For example, U.S.
3,414,054 discloses the use of agueous solu-tions of pyridine;
U.S. 3,469,630 discloses the use of sodium carbonate and inorgani~ polyphosphates, and U.S. 3,437,141 discloses the use of soluble carbonates, inorganic polyphosphates and `~15 sodium borate in combination wi.th saline solution of a surfactant having both a high and a low molecular weight component. These materials have not been completely satis~
factory from a standpoint of performance and economics ;
~- however.
U.S. Patent No. 3,384,171 to Parker discloses that lignosulfonates may be used as a pre1ush followed by a surfactant solution. T~hile this method provides an improve-ment over using surfactant alone, my invention provides an unexpected improvement in oil recovery over the process of Parker.
U.S. Patent 3,700,031 refers to lignosulfonate as a sacrificial agent for alkylaryl sulfonate.
SUMMAR~ OF THE INVENTION
,: .
The in~ention is a process of producing petroleum from subterranean formation having an injection well and a .~ .
'~
3,~3~d~S~
production well in cor~mmication therewith. The process comprises injecting into the formation via the injection well an aqueous solution of lignosulfonate salts in admixture with a chemical oil recovery agent, for example, surfactant, S polymer and/or a micellar dispersion thereby displacing oil from the subterranean foxmation to the surface of the earth.
The surfactant solutions useful herein are alkyl benzene ~ alkoxylated sulfonates and/or sulfates, sulfonated or - sulfated alkoxylated alkyl surfactants, mixtures of petroleum sulfonates and alkyl benzene alkoxylated sulfonates or sulfates. Also useful are mixtures of petroleum sulfonates and alkoxylated alkyl sulfonates or sulfate or, mixtures of petroleum sulfonates and alkoxylated organic alcohols or organic alcohols and petroleum sulfonates alone. It is the usual practice to then inject a fluid such as water to sweep the chemical components through the reservoir to the production well, thereby displacing oil from the subterranean ormation to the surface of the earth.
DESCRIPTION OF ~HE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A sacrificial material is injected by the process of this invention through an i~jeation means comprising one or more injection wells into a subterranean petroleum-containing ~ormation to preferably occupy or cover all po-tential adsorption sites of the rock within the subterranean formation thereby reducing the extent of adsorption of the more expensive chemical oil recovery agent injected therebehind. A sacrificial agent performs best when it exhibits high adsorption on active sites of rock surfaces, ; and thus diminishes surfactant and/or polymer adosrption.
Chemical compounds of polyelectrolytic nature have the proper ~3~
physico chemical and structural re~uirernents to behave as successful sacrificial agents. The functional groups on the sacrificial agent molecules enhance adsorption either by hydrogen bonding or electrostatic attraction to active sites on the rock surfaces.
A satisfactory sacrificial material has at least three important characteristics. First, it should be les5 expensive than the surfactant on cost effectiveness basis since it is to be sacrificed or adsorbed by the formation, probably not to be recovered. Next, it must be adsorbed readily by the subterranean formation matrix. Preferably the sacrificial material should be adsorbed more readily than the chemical oil recovery agent to be used in the process. The third important characteristic of a sacrificial agent is -that the presence of such adsorbed sacrificial material should retard or eliminate adsorption of the surfactant and/or polymer chemical recovery material on the adsorption site of the formation rock. By adsorption sites of the formation rock is meant those parts of the surfaces of the pores of the formation rock capable of adsorbing a chemical compound from a solution on contact.
The sacrificial material may not have a detrimental effect on the recovery efficiency of the chemical flooding operation. Additional oil is usually recovered only if the sacrificial material is followed by or is admixed with a surfactant and/or a polymer chemical recovery agent which will effectively increase the amount of oil displaced from the subterranean formation.
Typical examples of suitable polymers include polyacrylamides having from about 0 to about 75% of the amide -~ groups hydrolyzed to carboxyla-te groups. It is preferred to have from about O to 30% of the amide group hydrolyzed to carboxylate groups. Especially preferred is a polyacrylamide of greater than 6 million molecular weight and approximately 5% of the amide groups hydrolyzed. Polysaccharides are also polymers useful in my invention. For example, a co~nercially available material is Kelzan MF (a xanthan gum produced by the action of the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris). Modi-fications of polysaccharides to increase their ionic character will make them even more useful in my invention.
Another type of polymer useful in my invention are water soluble starch derivatives containing carboxyl sulfonate or sulfate groups in the form of sodium or ammonium salts. Other useful polymers include but are ~ot limited to soluble cellulose derivatives, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly(acrylic acid3, poly(ethylene oxide), polyethyleneimine and colloidal silica. This listing is not exhaustive. various other pol~ners may be used without ;, departing from the scope and spirit of my in~ention.
The amount of polymeric material which must be employed in the practice of any chemical flood is generally known in the art and is to be found in published literature.
However, the slug siæe of polymer generally will range from about O.1 to 2 pore volumes of an aqueous polymer solution having di~solved therein from about O.Ol-to about 0.5 percent ~; by weight of the polymer itself.
In my invention, the sacrificial agent i5 injected ahead of or in admixture with the polymeric material. A
surfactant may be mixed with the sacrificial agent and/or the -~ 30 polymer~
~3~
The suractants useful in my invention comprise an aqueous solution of alkyl benzene alkoxylated sulfonates or ~: sulfates having the following general formulae: -R
~ O ~ - (OcH~cH)xso3 M (I) (0C~2CH~x0S03 M (II) where Rl and R~ are h~drogen or alkyl with ak least one being -~ an alkyl group of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, x is a number from 1 to 10, - M+ is a cation select~d from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium, and ammonium, R3 is either -CH3 or hydrogen.
I Other surfactants useful in my invention comprise an aqueous solution of sulfonated or sulated alko~ylated alkyl surfactants having one of the following general - 20 formulae R1(0CH2lH~xs03 (III) or Rl~0~H2lH)Xoso3 M (IV) where R1 is an alkyl group of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R2 is either CH3 of hydrogen, and x is a number from 1 to 10.
Other useful surfactants comprise an aqueous solution of a mixture of petroleum sulfonates and solubili~ers or formulas I IV above.
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Also, petroleum sulfonate or a mixture of petroleum ;~ sulfonate and a water soluble organic alcohol or a mixture of petroleum sulfonate and an organic alcohol which has been alkoxylated and which displays amphiphilic properties are 5 useful.
The amount of surfactant which must be employed in the practice of any chemical flood is generally known in the art and is to be found in published literature. Howe~er, the slug size of surfactant generally will range from about 0.01 to 1 pore volumes of an aqueous surfactant solution having dissolved therein from about 0.01 to about 10.0 percent by - weight of the surfactant itself.
one embodiment o~ my invention is the use of an ~ aqueous solution of modified lignosulfonate in a slug ahead -~ 15 of or in admixture with ~n a~euous solution of polymer used to drive oil from an injection well to a production well.
In another embodiment of this inventio~, a sacri-- ficial material comprising liynosulfonate salts, is injected ` via the suitable injection means, i.e. through one or more injection wells completed in the subterranean hydrocarbon formation, in admixture with a surfactant solution followed by a solution oX polymer. By injectin~ the sacrificial material and surfactant ~ogether followed by polymer oil recovery is maximized.
Another embodiment of my invention is the use of modified lignosulfonates in conjunction with an emulsion of water, hydrocarbon and surfactant, i.e., a micellar dis-persion. The same parameters as discussed above for simple aqueous surfactant solutions would apply to micellar dis-persions. Micellar dispersions are known in the art.
3Z~52 The sacrificial agents useful in the process of my invention are lignosulfonate salts. Lignosul~onates are anionic polyelectrolytes soluble in water and tolerate hard water (polyvalent ions, e.g. calcium and magnesium). They are also thermally stable in formations where the temperature is high. Lignosulfonates are macromolecules built up by complex condensation of phenyl propane units. The sulfonate groups are attached to the aliphatic side chain, mainly to alpha carbon. Lignosulfonates are water soluble with molecu-lar weights ranging from several thousand to about 50,000 or more. They are economically attractive since being by-products of the pulping industry, they are plentiful and cost ~ .
less than either the surfactants or the polymers used in enhanced oil recovery methods. The polyelectrolyte lignosulfonates with strongly ionized sulfonate groups are - negatively charged species and have a tendency to adsorb on solid surfaces thereby imparting a negative charge to them.
The rock surfaces of a reservoir ~reated with lignosulfonates will be inert towards the anionic surfactants in the flood .. . .
water and thereore loss of surfactants to the rock surfaces will be kept to a minimum. The same phenomenon will occur with the poI~mer thickened drive fluid. ;
Lignin is second only to cellulose as the principal ~; constituent in wood. Generally, lignin is a complex phenolic polyether containing many different functional groups in-cluding carbo~yls, carbonyls, and alcoholic and phenolic hydroxyls. Lignins and their derivatives are described in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Second ;; ' .
-10~
31 ~32~5;~
Edition, Vol. 12, beginning at page 362. This publication describes two very broad classes of lignin derivatives:
sulfite lignins and alkali lignins.
The difference in the lignins exists because of the method of extraction of lignin material from woody materials.
Sulfonated alkali lignins are readily available commercially from various sources including but not limited to West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company under the trade name REAX
80's. Their general method of preparation is described in the Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology referred to above.
Briefly, sulfonated alkali lignins are prepared by cooking woodchips with a 10% solution of a mixture of sodium hydroxide with about 20 mole p~rcent of sodium sulfide. The lignin with wood is modified into a sodium compound often termed sodium lignate or alkali l:i~nin which is very solubIe in the strongly alkaline solution. These alkali lignlns are removed from solution by lowering the pH whlch precipitates out ~he alkali lignins. These unsulfonated alkali lignins are sold under various tradenames including I~DULIN. These alkali lignins are used to prepare the sulfonated derivatives. Methods of sulfonation are known by those skilled in the art. One typical method involves treating the alkali lignins with a solution of alkali sulfites at elevated tempexature and pressure. The degree of sulfonation may be controlled to provide a variety of sulfonated alkali lignins.
The other main type of lignin derivatives are called sulfite lignins or sulfite lignosulfonates. Sulfite - lignins are generally made by cooking woodchips under pressure in a solution of sulfurous acid and calcium, magnesium, sodium or ammonium bisulfite. This process 5~
; converts insoluble lignins to soluble llgnosulfonic acid.
The lignosulfonic acids or calcium, magnesium, sodium or ammonium salts of the lignosulfonic acids are available under various tradenames including MARASPERSE, LIGNOSITE, ORZAN, TORANIL, and RAYFL0.
The broad term lignosulfonates used herein refers to both sulfonated alkali lignins and sulfite lignosulfonates ~; (sulfite lignins). These are distinct types of compounds as ; explained above. Since the alkali lignins reguire sulfonation after extraction of the material from woody - products it is proper to call them sulfonated alkali lignins.
Likewise since sulfite llgnins emerge from the extraction ~i ~ process already sulfonated it is proper to refer to this :, ~
class of materials as sulfite lignins or sulfite lignosulfonates.
- Modified sulfonated alkali lignins and sulfite lignosulfonates, such as those with ring sulfomethylation, oxidation, ethoxylation, formaldehyde condensation, phenolation, and/or carbo~ylation are also useful as sacrificial agents. Lignosulfonates having degrees of sulfonation from about 2.0 to saturation are acceptable for my invention. Cations which are acceptable include Na , K , MH4 , Ca and Mg . The degree of sulfonation is the weight percentage of sulfonate (S03 ~ compared to the total molecular weight.
The quantity of sacrificial lignosulfonate materials to be injected into the subterranean hydrocarbon formation may be any amount up to and including an amount sufficient to occupy substantially all of the active sites of the formation matrix. If less than the maximum amount is ~12-~13~
used, there will be a corresponding increase in the adsorption of chemical recovery agent from injection solution onto the formation matrix although the amount of increase will not be as great as in the case where the formation is completely free of sacrificial lignosulfonate salts. At a maximum, only the amount of sulfonate salts needed to completely occupy the active sites on the for~ation is needed. The detriment resulting from using excess lignosulfonate salt would be an increase in the cost of operating the oil recovery program.
The amount of sacri~icial lignosulfonate salts needed in the process of the i~vention depends on the par-ticular formation, the area or pattern to be swept and other formation characteristics. Those skilled in the axt can determine -the exact quantity néeded to afford the desired amount of protection.
The effectiveness of this invention for reducing , ~ , the adsorption of surfactant or polymer on formation rock and chemical flooding operations is demonstrated by the following examples which are presented by way of illustration and are not intended as limiting the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
EXPERIMENTAL
(When tradenames are used, their chemical com-position is defined at Table X following.) Various lignosulfonates and derivates were tested to determine whether they will improve the efficiency of oil recovery of a surfactant system from a pack.
Crushed Slaughter cores were used in limestone packs to study the ability of lignosulfonates to improve the ~13-45;~
efficiency of surfactant systems to recovery tertiary oil rom packs. The packs had water permeabilities of about 17 darcies and porosities about 0.5. The floods were performed under similar conditions using an injection rate equivalent to a frontal advance of about 15 ft/day.
The packs were initially saturated with field water (Mallet water, 70,000 ppm Total Dissolved ~olids) and with Slaughter crude oil. They were then water flooded with Mallet water to a residual oil saturation. The surfactant slug was then injected followed by a solution of polymer.
After polymer injection water flooding was resumed until completion of the flood. The results of the tests are summarized in Tables I, II, III, IV and V. Table X gi~es a chemical description of materials used. In the discussion, the tradenames are used for convenience.
Different types of lignosulfonates were incorporated in a dual surfactant system ~0.4% Sulframin 1240 + 0.6% Sulfonated Surfonic N-40) at 1% concentration (Table I) and the systems were injected in crushed limestone packs.
Tertiary oil recovery of Slaughter crude was determined at 77F. The water composition of simulated Mallet produced water used is given in T~ble V. The surfactant system was injected as a slug (25% P.V.) and was followed by a slug (50%
P.V.) of 0.1% Kelzan MF polymer solution which was driven through by simulated Mallet produced water.
The lignosulfonates listed in Table I co~tributed to additional tertiary oil recovery, which indicated that they can be utilized as sacrificial agents in chemical recovery systems. The selection of the best ca~didate among the lignosulfonates described in Table VI will also depend on !
the saliniky and hardness of water encountered in a particular formation, since these lignosulfonates have different salt tolerance.
Three lignosulfonates were tested as sacrificial agents in chemical recovery floods, where the salinity and hardness of brine used were very high (Table II). The com-position of simulated Bob Slaughter Block connate water used . "
~ is given in Table VII. Tertiary oil recovery was determined - at 77F. The single surfactant system (1% Alipal C0-436 + 1%
lignosulfonate) was injected as a slug (20% P~V) in a crushed limestoné pack saturated with Slaughter crude, and was followed by a slug (50% P.V.) of 0.1% Kelzan MF polymer ~, i ?'` ` solution which was driven through by simulated Bob slaughter Block connate water. All three lignosulfonates contributed to additional tertiary oil recovery.
Two types of sulfonated alkali lignins were tested in chemical recovery systems in crushed limestone packs saturated with Slaughter crude at Mallet water salinity, and their performance has been tabulated in Table III.
The sulfonated alkali lignins were incorporated in ~- a singIe surfactant system [1% sodium dodecyl phenol poly-oxyethylene (4 moles) sulfonate] at 1% concentration, and the systems were injected in crushed limestone packs. The tertiary oil recovery of Slaughter crude was determined at 77F. The surfactant system was injected as a slug (24%
P.V.) and was followed by a slug (50% P.V.) of 0.1% Kelzan MF
polymer solution, which was driven through by simulated Mallet produced water. Both sulfonated alkali lignins con-tributed to additional tertiary oil recovery, which indicated that they can be utilized as sacrificial agents ,~qually well ~; as sulfite lignosulfonates ln chemical recovery systems. The selection of the proper lignin sulfonate as sacrificlal agent will depend on the salinity and hardness of water encoun-tered in a particular formation.
The mineral nature and characteristics of rock ; surfaces in a porous medium play a major role in tertiary oil recovery process when surfactant flooding is employed. In Table IV, clayey sandstone packs were used to determine tertiary oil recovery by a chemical recovery system. The flooding process applied and the conditions in the packs were the same as those given in Table I. It was observed that both i~ the flood containing no lignosulfonate and the ones containing liqnosulfonates recovered less tertiary oil than the corresponding ones performed in crushed limestone packs.
However, as before, the presence of lignosulfonate sacrificial agents increased oil recovery. The presence of clays contributed to lower tertiary oil recovery.
Table V demonstrates the improvement in oil recovery obtained by flooding with a mixture of lignosul -~ 20 fonates and surfactant in an agueous solution over surfactant ; solutions alone as well as a preflush of lignosulfonate followed by surfactant each with polymer injection.
In Case 1, a surfactant solution was injected into a previously water flooded limestone pack. This surfactant solution was followed by a polymer and the polymer was followed by brine water. The tertiary oil recovery by this method was 41 percent. The oil cut, that is, the largest fraction of oil produced with the water, was 22 percent. In Case 2, a solution of lignosul~onates was used as a preflush and was followed by a solution of the same surfactant as used :
in Case 1. This surfactant was followed by the same polymer used in Case 1 and the polymer was followed by water as in Case 1. In Case 2, the tertiary oil recovery was 55 percent ~; and the oil cut was 27 percent.
In Case 3, the surfactant and lignosulfonate were mixed together and injected as a mixture. This mixture was followed by the same polymer used in the previously cases and the polymer was followed by water as in the previous cases.
The tertiary oil recovery for Case 3 was 79 percent and the oil cut was 30 percent. Thus, the unexpected improvement of my invention is demonstrated.
All parameters were controlled as closely as possible to be constant throughout each ~lood. The crushed limestone packs were made to be as similar as possible and, of course, the same fluids were used from case to case where ~; applicable.
Table VI demonstrates the effect o Lignosite 458 on the oil recovery capability of a surfactant system com-.,~
prising two petroleum suIfonates and a solubilizer, which is nonyl phenol ethoxylated with 6 moles of ethylene oxide and sulfonated to the sodium salt followed by polymer. It is noted that the tertiary recovery when the lignosulfonate sacrificial agent is used is 76.9% whereas without the sacrificial agent the tertiary is 62.1%.
Table VII shows the results of a series of com-parative runs wherein various suractants followed by polymer were used in floods in laboratory cores. It is noted that in every case the addition of the lignosulfonate sacrificial agent improved the oil recovery.
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Claims (24)
1. A method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well comprising injecting into the injection well an aqeuous solution comprising a mixture of lignosulfonate and a surfactant comprising alkylbenzene alkoxylated sulfates having the following general formula wherein R1 and R2 are hydrogen or alkyl with at least one being an alkyl group of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, x is a number from 1 to 10, M+ is a cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium and ammonium, and R3 is either -CH3 or hydrogen.
2. A method as in Claim 1 wherein the solution of lignosulfonates and surfactant is preceded by an aqueous solution of lignosulfonate.
3. A method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well comprising injecting into the injection well an aqueous solution comprising a mixture of lignosulfonate and a surfactant comprising alkoxylated alkyl sulfates having the following general formula:
wherein R1 is an alkyl group of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R2 is either CH3 or hydrogen and x is a number from 1 to 10 and M+ is a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium, and ammonium.
wherein R1 is an alkyl group of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R2 is either CH3 or hydrogen and x is a number from 1 to 10 and M+ is a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium, and ammonium.
4. A method as in Claim 3 wherein the solution of lignosulfonates and surfactant is preceded by an aqueous so-lution of lignosulfonate.
5. A method for recovering oil from a subter-ranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well comprising injecting into the injection well an aqueous so-lution comprising a mixture of lignosulfonates and a sur-factant solution comprising petroleum sulfonates.
6. A method as in Claim 5 wherein the solution of lignosulfonate and surfactant is preceded by an aqueous so-lution of lignosulfonates.
7. A method for recovering oil from a subterra-nean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well comprising injecting into the injection well an agueous so-lution comprising a mixture of lignosulfonates and a sur-factant solution comprising petroleum sulfonate and a water soluble organic alcohol.
8. A method as in Claim 7 wherein the solution of lignosulfonates, petroleum sulfonates and organic alcohol is preceded by an aqueous solution of lignosulfonates.
9. A method for recovering oil from a subterra-nean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well comprising injecting into the injection well an aqueous so-lution comprising a mixture of lignosulfonates and a sur-factant solution comprising petroleum sulfonate and an organic alcohol which has been alkoxylated to display amphiphilic properties.
10. A method as in Claim 9 wherein the solution of lignosulfonate and alkoxylated organic alcohols is pre-ceded by an aqueous solution of lignosulfonates.
11. A method for recovering oil from a subterra-nean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well comprising injecting into the injection well an aqueous solu-tion comprising a mixture of lignosulfonates and a sur-factant solution comprising petroleum sulfonate and a sulfon-ated alkoxylated organic alcohol.
12. A method as in Claim 11 wherein the solution of lignosulfonates, petroleum sulfonates and sulfonated alkoxylated organic alcohol is preceded by an aqueous so-lution of lignosulfonates.
13. A method for recovering oil from a subterra-nean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well comprising injecting into the injection well an aqueous so-lution comprising a mixture of lignosulfonates and a sur-factant solution comprising petroleum sulfonate and a sulfonated alkoxylated alkyl phenol.
14. A method as in Claim 13 wherein the solution of petroleum sulfonates, lignosulfonate and sulfonated alkoxylated alkyl phenol is preceded by an aqueous solution of lignosulfonates.
15. A method for recovering oil from a subterra-nean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well comprising injecting into the injection well an aqueous so-lution comprising a mixture of lignosulfonates and a sur-factant solution comprising petroleum sulfonate and a sul-fated alkoxylated organic alcohol.
16. A method as in Claim 15 wherein the solution of lignosulfonates, petroleum sulfonates and sulfated alkoxy-lated organic alcohol is preceded by an aqueous solution of lignosulfonates.
17. A method for recovering oil from a subter-ranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well comprising injecting into the injection well an aqueous solution comprising a mixture of lignosulfonates and a sur-factant solution comprising petroleum sulfonate and a sul-fated alkoxylated alkyl phenol.
18. A method as in Claim 17 wherein the solution of petroleum sulfonates, lignosulfonate and sulfated alkoxy-lated alkyl phenol is preceded by an aqueous solution of lignosulfonates.
19. A method for recovering oil from a subterra-nean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein aqueous solutions of sur-factant and polymer are injected into the subterranean for-mation comprising:
(a) injecting through the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of lignosulfonates, (b) then injecting into the formation via the in-jection well an aqueous surfactant solution comprising alkyl benzene alkoxylated sulfonates having the following general formula:
(I) where R1 and R2 are hydrogen or alkyl with at least one being an alkyl group of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, x is a number from 1 to 10, M+ is a cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, ammonium and R3 is either -CH3 or hydrogen also containing ligno-sulfonates of steps (a) and (b) being present in amounts effective for reducing the extent of adsorption of surfactant and polymer by the formation matrix, (c) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well a solution of polymer and (d) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
(a) injecting through the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of lignosulfonates, (b) then injecting into the formation via the in-jection well an aqueous surfactant solution comprising alkyl benzene alkoxylated sulfonates having the following general formula:
(I) where R1 and R2 are hydrogen or alkyl with at least one being an alkyl group of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, x is a number from 1 to 10, M+ is a cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, ammonium and R3 is either -CH3 or hydrogen also containing ligno-sulfonates of steps (a) and (b) being present in amounts effective for reducing the extent of adsorption of surfactant and polymer by the formation matrix, (c) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well a solution of polymer and (d) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
20. A method for recovering oil from a subterra-nean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein aqueous solutions of surfac-tant and polymer are injected into the subterranean for-mation comprising:
(a) injecting into the formation via the in-jection well an aqueous surfactant solution comprising alkyl benzene alkoxylated sulfonates having the following general formula:
(I) where R1 and R2 are hydrogen or alkyl with at least one being an alkyl group of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, x is a number from 1 to 10, M+ is a cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, ammonium and R3 is either -CH3 or hydrogen containing ligno-sulfonates said lignosulfonates being present in an amount effective for reducing the extent of adsorption of surfac-tant and polymer by the formation matrix, (b) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well a solution of polymer and (c) producing oil from the formation via the pro-duction well.
(a) injecting into the formation via the in-jection well an aqueous surfactant solution comprising alkyl benzene alkoxylated sulfonates having the following general formula:
(I) where R1 and R2 are hydrogen or alkyl with at least one being an alkyl group of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, x is a number from 1 to 10, M+ is a cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, ammonium and R3 is either -CH3 or hydrogen containing ligno-sulfonates said lignosulfonates being present in an amount effective for reducing the extent of adsorption of surfac-tant and polymer by the formation matrix, (b) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well a solution of polymer and (c) producing oil from the formation via the pro-duction well.
21. A method for recovering oil from a subter-ranean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well comprising:
(a) injecting through the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of polymer and lignosul-fonates in an amount effective for reducing the extent of adsorption of polymer by the formation matrix and (b) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
(a) injecting through the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of polymer and lignosul-fonates in an amount effective for reducing the extent of adsorption of polymer by the formation matrix and (b) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
22. A method far recovering oil from a subterra-nean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well comprising:
(a) injecting through the injection well an aqueous solution of lignosulfonates, (b) then injecting through the injection well an aqueous solution of polymer and (c) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
(a) injecting through the injection well an aqueous solution of lignosulfonates, (b) then injecting through the injection well an aqueous solution of polymer and (c) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
23. A method for recovering oil from a subterra-nean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein aqueous solutions of surfactant and polymer are injected into the subterranean formation com-prising:
(a) injecting through the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of lignosulfonates, (b) then injecting into the formation via the injection well an aqueous surfactant solution comprising alkoxylated alkyl sulfonates having the following general formula:
wherein R1 is an alkyl group of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R2 is either CH3 or hydrogen and x is a number from 1 to 10.
M+ is a cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, and ammonium.
(a) injecting through the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of lignosulfonates, (b) then injecting into the formation via the injection well an aqueous surfactant solution comprising alkoxylated alkyl sulfonates having the following general formula:
wherein R1 is an alkyl group of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R2 is either CH3 or hydrogen and x is a number from 1 to 10.
M+ is a cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, and ammonium.
24. A method for recovering oil from a subterra-nean formation containing oil and having an injection well and a production well wherein aqueous solutions of surfactant and polymer are injected into the subterranean formation comprising:
(a) injecting into the formation via the injection well an aqueous surfactant solution comprising alkoxylated alkyl sulfonates having the following general formula:
wherein R1 is an alkyl group of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R2 is either CH3 or hydrogen and x is a number from 1 to 10, M+ is a cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, ammonium and R3 is either -CH3 or hydrogen containing ligno-sulfonates said lignosulfonates being present in an amount effective for reducing the extent of adsorption of surfactant and polymer by the formation matrix, (b) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well a solution of polymer and (c) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
(a) injecting into the formation via the injection well an aqueous surfactant solution comprising alkoxylated alkyl sulfonates having the following general formula:
wherein R1 is an alkyl group of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R2 is either CH3 or hydrogen and x is a number from 1 to 10, M+ is a cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, ammonium and R3 is either -CH3 or hydrogen containing ligno-sulfonates said lignosulfonates being present in an amount effective for reducing the extent of adsorption of surfactant and polymer by the formation matrix, (b) subsequently injecting into the formation via the injection well a solution of polymer and (c) producing oil from the formation via the production well.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US968,585 | 1978-12-11 | ||
| US05/968,585 US4235290A (en) | 1978-12-11 | 1978-12-11 | Lignosulfonates as additives in oil recovery processes involving chemical recovery agents |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1132452A true CA1132452A (en) | 1982-09-28 |
Family
ID=25514457
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA330,458A Expired CA1132452A (en) | 1978-12-11 | 1979-06-25 | Lignosulfanates as additives in oil recovery processes involving chemical recovery agents |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4235290A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR7903009A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1132452A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2918197A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4313500A (en) * | 1980-08-20 | 1982-02-02 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Sacrificial adsorbate for surfactants utilized in chemical floods of enhanced oil recovery operations |
| US4421168A (en) * | 1980-11-10 | 1983-12-20 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Surfactant waterflooding with graded salinity drive for oil recovery |
| US4703797A (en) * | 1983-12-28 | 1987-11-03 | Cities Service Co. | Sweep improvement in enhanced oil recovery |
| US4713185A (en) * | 1985-03-25 | 1987-12-15 | Canadian Patents And Development Ltd. | Sacrificial agents for enhanced oil recovery |
| US5009268A (en) * | 1990-01-02 | 1991-04-23 | Texaco Inc. | Method of using a combination lignosulfonate/polyalkylene glycol system as a sacrificial agent for surfactant flooding |
| US5251698A (en) * | 1992-06-23 | 1993-10-12 | Texaco Inc. | Method of using lignosulfonate-acrylic acid graft copolymers as sacrificial agents for surfactant flooding |
| US6942031B1 (en) | 1995-11-27 | 2005-09-13 | Texaco Inc. | Lignosulfonate-acrylic acid graft copolymers as sacrificial agents for carbon dioxide foaming agents |
| US6186231B1 (en) | 1998-11-20 | 2001-02-13 | Texaco Inc. | Conformance improvement in hydrocarbon bearing underground strata using lignosulfonate-acrylic acid graft copolymer gels |
| US6736211B2 (en) | 2002-07-22 | 2004-05-18 | Oil Chem Technologies | Method of using alkylsulfonated phenol/aldehyde resins as adsorption reducing agents for chemical flooding |
| WO2014165254A2 (en) * | 2013-03-13 | 2014-10-09 | Seldon Technologies, Inc | Device and method for the purification of biologically contaminated water |
| GB2541311B (en) * | 2014-07-02 | 2021-11-03 | Halliburton Energy Services Inc | Method comprising surfactant formulation for reduced and delayed adsorption |
Family Cites Families (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3384171A (en) * | 1967-02-20 | 1968-05-21 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Aqueous fluid drive oil recovery process |
| US3469630A (en) * | 1967-10-09 | 1969-09-30 | Mobil Oil Corp | Method of minimizing adsorption of surfactant from flooding water |
| US3476188A (en) * | 1969-01-03 | 1969-11-04 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Aqueous fluid drive process using minute solids in suspension |
| US3532166A (en) * | 1969-01-10 | 1970-10-06 | Mobil Oil Corp | Oil recovery process using thickened aqueous flooding liquids |
| US3700031A (en) * | 1970-06-18 | 1972-10-24 | Germer Stringer Corp | Secondary recovery and well stimulation, solutions, and methods of use |
| US3797574A (en) * | 1972-10-27 | 1974-03-19 | Texaco Inc | Miscible oil recovery process |
| US3858656A (en) * | 1973-12-03 | 1975-01-07 | Texaco Inc | Oil recovery process usable in formations containing water having high concentrations of polyvalent ions |
| US4157115A (en) * | 1975-06-30 | 1979-06-05 | Texaco Inc. | Lignosulfonates as additives in recovery processes involving chemical recovery processes |
| US4006779A (en) * | 1975-06-30 | 1977-02-08 | Texaco Inc. | Lignosulfonates as sacrificial agents in oil recovery processes |
| US3977471A (en) * | 1975-09-26 | 1976-08-31 | Exxon Production Research Company | Oil recovery method using a surfactant |
| US4072192A (en) * | 1976-02-04 | 1978-02-07 | Texaco Inc. | Sulfomethylated lignite salt as a sacrifical agent in oil recovery processes |
-
1978
- 1978-12-11 US US05/968,585 patent/US4235290A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1979
- 1979-05-05 DE DE19792918197 patent/DE2918197A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1979-05-15 BR BR7903009A patent/BR7903009A/en unknown
- 1979-06-25 CA CA330,458A patent/CA1132452A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2918197A1 (en) | 1980-06-26 |
| US4235290A (en) | 1980-11-25 |
| BR7903009A (en) | 1980-10-07 |
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