Enhanced oil recovery with hydrophobically associating polymers containing sulfonate functionality
US4702319A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 1986 |
| Grant date | Oct 27, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 29, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S507/936
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
This invention relates to a method for enhanced recovery of petroleum from a subterranean oil-bearing formation. More particularly, this invention relates to secondary or tertiary recovery of oil employing a polymer thickened aqueous drive fluid. The polymeric viscosifier for the drive fluid is selected from a class of hydrophobically associating water soluble polymers containing one or more water soluble monomers and a water insoluble monomer or group. The water soluble groups are acrylamide and a salt of an ethylenically unsaturated sulfonic acid and the water insoluble group is a higher alkyl acrylamide. These polymers, when dissolved in an aqueous brine solution, have the ability to substantially increase the viscosity of the solution. The control of displacement fluid mobility results in more uniform sweep efficiency and improved oil recovery. In addition, aqueous solutions of these hydrophobically associating polymers exhibit enhanced viscosification, reduced salt sensitivity and other desirable rheological properties found useful in chemically enhanced oil recovery processes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.