Method and system for the enhanced recovery of oil, using water that has been depleted in ions using magnetic particles
US10138410B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 2014 |
| Grant date | Nov 27, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/26
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method of depleting an ion from a water source is provided. The method is applicable to water used in oil recovery, water used in natural gas recovery, the treatment of water wells, and for water used in hydraulic fluids for fracturing processes, such as water to be used in proppants or fracking fluids. The method involves depleting an ion from a water source, said method comprising contacting a water source with a superparamagnetic or paramagnetic nanoparticle; complexing the ion with the particle; and removing the ion-particle complex by applying a magnetic field so as to provide a water source with depleted ion content. The depleted water can then be pumped into one or more connecting injection well(s) in an oil field pushing the crude oil towards one or more production well(s) thereby allowing for enhanced oil recovery from the production wells.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.