Solvent assisted oil recovery
US8846582B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 23, 2009 |
| Grant date | Sep 30, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 28, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/54
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The recovery of oil from a reservoir is assisted by injecting a diluent into the reservoir formation to reduce the viscosity of the crude oil. This diluent is a mixture of a material which is an asphaltene precipitant, especially supercritical carbon dioxide, and a more polar material which comprises at least one aliphatic compound which includes at least one of a cycloaliphatic ring, an olefinic unsaturation, an ester or ether group. The inclusion of such an aliphatic compound which is more polar than the asphaltene precipitant reduces asphaltene precipitation and can enhance the efficiency of oil recovery when the precipitant is by supercritical carbon dioxide.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.