Gravity stable surfactant flooding in gas depleted reservoirs
US4838350A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 28, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jun 13, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC09K8/58
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention is a method of recovering hydrocarbons from an underground vertical hydrocarbon reservoir having a substantial vertical thickness, an oil saturation relatively near residual oil saturation to gas, and at least one injection well and one production well penetrating the reservoir. The method comprises injecting a surfactant slug into the bottom of the reservoir above any water zone or aquifer, and driving the surfactant slug upwards through the reservoir by the use of some driving force. The driving force may be supplied by one or more of a combination of methods comprising producing the gas cap of the reservoir, producing hydrocarbons banked above the surfactant slug, or injecting fluid below the surfactant slug. Hydrocarbons are recovered at one or more production wells.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.