Patent · US Expired

Alkaline water flooding with a precipitation inhibitor for enhanced oil recovery

US4714113A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
14References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 5, 1986
Grant dateDec 22, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 5, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC09K8/58
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An enhanced oil recovery method is provided utilizing an alkaline waterflood injection fluid including a water-soluble precipitation inhibitor such as a polyacrylate, an acrylate-containing copolymer, an organophosphonate, a carboxylate-containing organophosphonate or a polymaleic anhydride whereby divalent metal cations dissolved within the injection fluid or within the reservoir water in the immediate vicinity of the injection well are substantially prevented from precipitating. Additionally, the injection fluid preferably provides sufficient alkaline material whereby beyond the immediate vicinity of the injection well the permeability characteristics of the reservoir are modified by precipitation of, e.g., divalent metal hydroxides or divalent metal carbonates.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.