Process for tertiary mineral oil production using surfactant mixtures

US8853136B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Christian Bittner · Bensheim, DE
• Günter Oetter · Bischofswerda, DE
• Jack Tinsley · Mannheim, DE
• Christian Spindler · Günzburg, DE
• Gabriela Alvarez Jürgenson · Mannheim, DE
• Sophie Vogel · Mannheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 13, 2010
• Grant date: Oct 7, 2014
• Expiry date: Jan 18, 2033

Classification

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

Abstract

A process for mineral oil production, especially Winsor type III microemulsion flooding, in which an aqueous surfactant formulation which comprises at least one alkylpolyalkoxysulfate comprising propoxy groups, and at least one further surfactant differing therefrom is used, is forced through injection wells into a mineral oil deposit and crude oil is removed from the deposit through production wells. The alkylpolyalkoxysulfate comprising propoxy groups is prepared in this case by sulfating an alkoxylated alcohol, the alkoxylated alcohol being prepared by alkoxylating an alcohol using double metal cyanide catalysts or double hydroxide clays.