Use of surfactant mixtures of polycarboxylates for microemulsion flooding

US8684080B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Christian Bittner · Bensheim, DE
• Günter Oetter · Bischofswerda, DE
• Jack Tinsley · Mannheim, DE
• Christian Spindler · Günzburg, DE
• Sophie Vogel · Mannheim, DE
• Gabriela Alvarez-Juergenson · Mannheim, DE
• Marcus Guzmann · Bad Windsheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 9, 2011
• Grant date: Apr 1, 2014
• Expiry date: Feb 24, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C09K8/584
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to processes for tertiary mineral oil production with the aid of a surfactant mixture and to the use of a surfactant mixture for tertiary mineral oil production by means of Winsor type III microemulsion flooding, by injecting a surfactant mixture through at least one aqueous injection borehole into a mineral oil deposit, and withdrawing crude oil from the deposit through at least one production borehole, wherein the surfactant mixture, for the purpose of lowering the interfacial tension between oil and water to <0.1 mN/m, comprises at least the following components: (a) one or more polycarboxylate(s) comprising at least 50 mol % of acrylic acid units and/or methacrylic acid units and/or maleic acid units and/or itaconic acid units or salts thereof, and (b) one or more anionic and/or nonionic surfactant(s).