CA1224914A - Sulfonate dimer surfactant additives for gas foam drives and a process of stimulating hydrocarbon recovery from a subterranean formation - Google Patents
Sulfonate dimer surfactant additives for gas foam drives and a process of stimulating hydrocarbon recovery from a subterranean formationInfo
- Publication number
- CA1224914A CA1224914A CA000454564A CA454564A CA1224914A CA 1224914 A CA1224914 A CA 1224914A CA 000454564 A CA000454564 A CA 000454564A CA 454564 A CA454564 A CA 454564A CA 1224914 A CA1224914 A CA 1224914A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- gas
- process according
- foam
- alpha
- surfactant
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
- C09K8/58—Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids
- C09K8/592—Compositions used in combination with generated heat, e.g. by steam injection
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S507/00—Earth boring, well treating, and oil field chemistry
- Y10S507/935—Enhanced oil recovery
- Y10S507/936—Flooding the formation
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An improved non-condensible gas injection process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The process includes the use of alpha-olefin sulfonate monomer and dimer surfactants along with the gas to form a gas foam drive medium which is injected into the formation through at least one injection well to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons from at least one production well.
An improved non-condensible gas injection process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The process includes the use of alpha-olefin sulfonate monomer and dimer surfactants along with the gas to form a gas foam drive medium which is injected into the formation through at least one injection well to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons from at least one production well.
Description
S~LFON~TE DIM~R SURFACT~NT ADDITIVES
FOR GAS FOAM DRIVES AND A PROCESS OF
STIMULATING HYDROCARBON R~COV~RY
05 FROM A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATIO~
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to enhanced oil recovery.
More specifically, this invention relates to a process of enhancing oil recovery with a gas foam injection.
Many petroleum producing formations require assistance to economically produce hydrocarbons there-from~ The hydrocarbons can be recovered through the use of gas drives which are miscible with the in-place oil or generate a mlscible drive of the in-place oil.
Optionally, the gas drives may lower the viscosity of the hydrocarbons and enhance the flow of the hydrocarbons toward a production well. However, after initial break-through of the injected gas at the production well, the injected gas preferentially follows the path of the break-through. Thus, the total amount of the formation that is swept by the injected gas is limited. ~olutions of commercial surfactants, such as Orvus K*Liquid, a product of the Procter & Gamble Co., and Alipal*CD-128, a product
FOR GAS FOAM DRIVES AND A PROCESS OF
STIMULATING HYDROCARBON R~COV~RY
05 FROM A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATIO~
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to enhanced oil recovery.
More specifically, this invention relates to a process of enhancing oil recovery with a gas foam injection.
Many petroleum producing formations require assistance to economically produce hydrocarbons there-from~ The hydrocarbons can be recovered through the use of gas drives which are miscible with the in-place oil or generate a mlscible drive of the in-place oil.
Optionally, the gas drives may lower the viscosity of the hydrocarbons and enhance the flow of the hydrocarbons toward a production well. However, after initial break-through of the injected gas at the production well, the injected gas preferentially follows the path of the break-through. Thus, the total amount of the formation that is swept by the injected gas is limited. ~olutions of commercial surfactants, such as Orvus K*Liquid, a product of the Procter & Gamble Co., and Alipal*CD-128, a product
2~ of the GAF Corporation, have been injected along with gas to create a gas foam flood. These materials are modified ammonium alkyl sulfates and ammonium salts of sulfated linear primary alcohol ethoxylate, respectively. The --surEactants and gas form a foam that inhibits the flow of the gas into that portion of the formation containing only residual oil saturation. Residual oil saturation is defined as the immobile oil remaining in that portion of the reservoir swept by gas or other enhanced recovery means. This forces the gas to drive the recoverable hydrocarbons from the less depleted portions of the reservoir toward the production well(s).
To maximize the extraction of hydrocarbons from a formation, it would be highly desirable to have foaming surfactants which inhibit the flow of gas in a gas zone containing only residual oil saturation~ Furthermore, it ~ Trade Mark 1,Z2~ q would be ciesirable to have the surfactants in a gas foam recovery process which inhibit the Elow of the gas in the a5 ~one which contains only the residual oil and enhance the flow of gas in the zone which contains the recoverable hydrocarbonsO However, it is desirable not to have the flow of the recoverable hydrocarbons inhibited in the gas zone having an oil saturation greater than the residual oil saturation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We have invented a surfactant gas foam process for recovering hydrocarbons Erom a subterranean ~ormation Ihe gas can be any non-condensible gas such as CO2, N2, CO, flue gas, and the like. The process comprlses the injection of a class of dimers oE C5-C24 alpha-olefin sulfonates as foaming surfactants into the gas injection at at least one injection well to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons from at least one production well. The foaming characteristics of the alpha-olefin sulfonate dimers enhance tha sweepiny of the gas through the formation. This enhances the recovery of hydrocarbons at the production well. The surfactar-t~gas foam combination also recovers additional hydrocarbons from the previously residual oil saturated portions of the formation swept by only gasO The foamable mixture of gas and surfactant solution is injected illtO the formation at an injection well and displaced toward the production wel7 with either additional foamable mixture, gas alone, or a water drive to recover the hydrocarbons from the formationO
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
__. _ ______ Foaming surfactants for the injection can be evaluated by comparing several properties of the foams.
Some of these properties are resistance factors, (R), which are determined by the pressure drop across a foam generator or a sandpack with simultaneous flow of a non-condensible gas, and brine as lllustrated and at the following conditions: (I) at residual oil saturation with and without surfactant, and (2) at mobile oil saturation ~1 -3-with and without ~urfactant. The resistance -f~ctors are defined in Table I.
~5 1~ ~
~2;~
I ,~
Q) \, -~, ~, a ~, ~ ~,~
rl r~ S S ~Cl V) r!~ ~) ~) 3 1 ~ ~ .,1 ._1 0 C~
~ O ~ ~ ~ ~
O ~ O ~ ~ O
~1 '~ ~1 O O ~1 O ~ ~1 ~1
To maximize the extraction of hydrocarbons from a formation, it would be highly desirable to have foaming surfactants which inhibit the flow of gas in a gas zone containing only residual oil saturation~ Furthermore, it ~ Trade Mark 1,Z2~ q would be ciesirable to have the surfactants in a gas foam recovery process which inhibit the Elow of the gas in the a5 ~one which contains only the residual oil and enhance the flow of gas in the zone which contains the recoverable hydrocarbonsO However, it is desirable not to have the flow of the recoverable hydrocarbons inhibited in the gas zone having an oil saturation greater than the residual oil saturation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We have invented a surfactant gas foam process for recovering hydrocarbons Erom a subterranean ~ormation Ihe gas can be any non-condensible gas such as CO2, N2, CO, flue gas, and the like. The process comprlses the injection of a class of dimers oE C5-C24 alpha-olefin sulfonates as foaming surfactants into the gas injection at at least one injection well to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons from at least one production well. The foaming characteristics of the alpha-olefin sulfonate dimers enhance tha sweepiny of the gas through the formation. This enhances the recovery of hydrocarbons at the production well. The surfactar-t~gas foam combination also recovers additional hydrocarbons from the previously residual oil saturated portions of the formation swept by only gasO The foamable mixture of gas and surfactant solution is injected illtO the formation at an injection well and displaced toward the production wel7 with either additional foamable mixture, gas alone, or a water drive to recover the hydrocarbons from the formationO
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
__. _ ______ Foaming surfactants for the injection can be evaluated by comparing several properties of the foams.
Some of these properties are resistance factors, (R), which are determined by the pressure drop across a foam generator or a sandpack with simultaneous flow of a non-condensible gas, and brine as lllustrated and at the following conditions: (I) at residual oil saturation with and without surfactant, and (2) at mobile oil saturation ~1 -3-with and without ~urfactant. The resistance -f~ctors are defined in Table I.
~5 1~ ~
~2;~
I ,~
Q) \, -~, ~, a ~, ~ ~,~
rl r~ S S ~Cl V) r!~ ~) ~) 3 1 ~ ~ .,1 ._1 0 C~
~ O ~ ~ ~ ~
O ~ O ~ ~ O
~1 '~ ~1 O O ~1 O ~ ~1 ~1
3 3 3 ~ \ O
~ ~ ~ 3 3 3 O O O O O O O
v.s~ u~ u~ ~ v? u2 tn ~ O V ~ J~ .~ V
r~ h ~5 1~ (~ 1~ (~
o o a~ o ~ v ~ U~ C ~ C C C C
,~ ~ O O O O O O
P ~ 1~1 N ~ ~ N ~
U~ U~ U~ U~ U~ U) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ (~
~ ~ ~ C~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ C
rl ~r~ ~1 r~ r~ r~
~4 ~ ~ P~ P~ P~ ~
C ~ V
H ~1 I ¢l ~ ~_,A~o ~ ~ ~ + ~ ~ O
c a) ~ a O ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ r~
,~ ,~ O ,1.,~ O ~ Q
~ ~ U~ ~I SJ cn Q~ O ~
., m cc ~ ~3 +h O ~ C
,~ + + + +
L~ ~ r~
a) ~ c,) ~ v .L) C~ 3 C
a c z c ç c zs~ ~ ~ JJ o 1~ ~ 3 r~ t~ 3 C) JJ SJ ~ 1 .~ -1-U~ '1 U) O I
C) O t) O C~ O O O U) U~ S C
115 U) ~ ~ U~ (15 U) (~ U) a) a) ID r-~ ,C ~ O
~ ~ ~ 3 3 3 O O O O O O O
v.s~ u~ u~ ~ v? u2 tn ~ O V ~ J~ .~ V
r~ h ~5 1~ (~ 1~ (~
o o a~ o ~ v ~ U~ C ~ C C C C
,~ ~ O O O O O O
P ~ 1~1 N ~ ~ N ~
U~ U~ U~ U~ U~ U) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ (~
~ ~ ~ C~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ C
rl ~r~ ~1 r~ r~ r~
~4 ~ ~ P~ P~ P~ ~
C ~ V
H ~1 I ¢l ~ ~_,A~o ~ ~ ~ + ~ ~ O
c a) ~ a O ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ r~
,~ ,~ O ,1.,~ O ~ Q
~ ~ U~ ~I SJ cn Q~ O ~
., m cc ~ ~3 +h O ~ C
,~ + + + +
L~ ~ r~
a) ~ c,) ~ v .L) C~ 3 C
a c z c ç c zs~ ~ ~ JJ o 1~ ~ 3 r~ t~ 3 C) JJ SJ ~ 1 .~ -1-U~ '1 U) O I
C) O t) O C~ O O O U) U~ S C
115 U) ~ ~ U~ (15 U) (~ U) a) a) ID r-~ ,C ~ O
4~ C ~ ~ ~ C 5~ ~ rl ~ r~ Z
~ ~-~ Ll + ~ 1 + ~1 ~ O rl 3 3 1-1 3 1 3 1~ 1l 3 1 u) ~ m u) ~ u) ~ u, ~ c~ 1l 1l 1l ~_ C~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ZP~ P~ Z P~ Z ~ Z P~ ~ o o o C~
<I <I C~ ~ 1 .~ ~ U~ U~ 3 3 Z
a) ~) O
~) ,~
U~ ~) ~ ta U~
a) ~;
r-l U-\ O 1~ 0 Ll`
O O ~
A high value of Rl indicates that the surEactant has the capability to create a foam that strongly inhibits the flow of gas in a gas zone containing residual oil. This parameter has been used before to evaluate surfactants and gas floods.
Higher Rl values indicate more desirable surfactants. In addition, resistance factors R2 and R3 are also important for evaluating the surfactant effectiveness. ~ high value of R2 indicates thQ surfactant makes a much stronger flow inhibiting foam in a gas zone with residual oil than it makes in a gas zone with recoverable hydrocarbons. This has the effect of blocking off that portion of the formation which has been swept of recoverable hydrocarbons and forces the additional gas inje~tion to drive the recoverable hydrocarbons toward the production well. R3 values should approach one and preferably be less than 1. An R3 value less than one indicates that -the surfactant itself has the ability to actually improve the flow of recoverable hydrocarbons in the gas zone relative to the absence of surfactant. Thus, high values of Rl and R2 and a value of R3 less than 1.0 would indicate the most desirable surfactants to divert gas from the depleted zone of the reser-voir and to accelerate the growth of the gas zone and thereby to accelerate and increase the production of crude oil for a given amount of gas injection.
The surfactants of the invention are the dimers of alpha-olefin sulfonates wherein the monomers have a carbon chain length of from a~out Cs to about C24. In other words, the dimer has a chain length of C10-C4g. The dimers derived from the monomers of Cll-Clg alpha-olefin sulfonates are pre-ferred. Mixtures of the dimers can be employed to optimize the recovery of hydrocarbons from a particular formation. Further-2~ 3~
more, the dimers can be mixed with monomer alpha-olefin sul-fonates to further optimize the recovery from a particular formation. In this context reference may be made to our Canadian application 455,511 filed concurrently with this application and entitled "Alpha Olefin Sulfonate Surfactant Additives for Gas Foam Drives and a Process of Stimulating Hydrocarbon Recovery from a Subterranean Formation". The alpha-olefin sulfonates are prepared by any known process such as the procedure described in GB 2,095,309A. Suitable examples of dimers of alpha-olefin sulfonates would be the dimers of Thermophoam BW-D~, a product of the Far Best Company, Stepanflo 30~, a product of the Stepan Company, and the Alpha Olefin product sieves by Chevron Chemical Company.
The dimers can be prepared by any known process.
For example, the dimers of the monomers are complex mixtures of compounds which can be prepared by heating the monomers at a temperature above about 110C as disclosed in U.S.
Patent 3,721,707. For convenience, the mixture is referred to as alpha olefin sulfonate dimers. Of course, a specific dimer can be prepared by starting with a specific monomer.
The injection and production wells can be arranged in any pattern. For example, a two-spot, a three-spot, a regular four-spot, a skewed four-spot, a five-spot, a seven-spot, an inverted seven-spot, and the like. Suitable patterns are described in The Reservoir Engineering Aspects of Waterflooding by Forrest F. Craig, Jr., Society of Petrol-eum Engineers of AIME, 1971, page 49. Preferably, the injec-tion well is surrounded by production wells, i.e., inverted five-spot and seven-spot patters.
Any standard method of creating a gas surfactant foam is suitable for use in the invention. Preferably, the non-condensible gas is nitrogen or carbon dioxide. However the surfactant water combination must not be heated to a tem-perature at which steam formsO Alternatively, the procedures outlined in U.S. Patent 4,086,964 can be employed. In add-ition, the procedures outlined in UOS. Patents 4,085,800 and 3,412,793, can be used with producing formations that contain zones of high permeability and/or are susceptible to channel-ing. In those formations, the high permeability zones are plugged to enhance the recovery o~ hydrocarbons from the zones of lower permeability. Again, these processes must be carried out at a temperature below the steam formation temperature of the reservoir.
The foam is created by mixing water or other suit-able liquid containing the surfactant and in~ecting the non-condensible gas therein at a rate of about 5,000,000 standard cubic feet per day, (5M SCF/D). The surfactant is from about 0.01% to about 10% of the liquid phase of the gas-foam combin-ation. Preferably, the surfactant is employed in as small an amount as possible to enhance the oil receovery. This is on the order of about 0.1% to about 1% surfactant present in the liquid phase. The non-condensible gas-foam combina-tion is from about 1 to about 99% non-condensible gas and from about 99 to about 1% surfactant phase by volume. The gas-foam is in-jected into an injection well at a rate determined by reservoir characteristics and well pattern area. Typically, gas and sur-factant solution are injected into each injection well at 5M SCF/D and 2,500 barrels per day (~PD), respectively.
Optionally, the water or other suitable liquid for forming the , , ~ , -- 7~ -foam can contain other additives which enhance its properties such as scale inhibitors, cosurfactants, and the like. The water can also contain salts.
The process is carried out in the following procedure to minimize the cost of the operation. Initially, a first slug of gas is injected into the formation for a sufficient time to form a gas zone in the Ql ~
subterranean formation containing the hydrocarbons. The gas injection is continued until there is gas breakthrough 05 at the production well. This recovers the mobile oil in the gas-swept portion o the formation. Thereafter, a second slug of gas and foam surfactant is injected. ~rhis slug diverts the gas Xrom the area of breakthrough and forces it to sweep through undepleted portions of the formation to recover additional hydrocarbons. Slugs of gas and surfactant can be alternated w,ith slugs of pure gas. optionally, the slugs can be tapered compositionally from one slug into the next to form a smooth transition or ; surfactant gas injection can be continuous. Finally, pure gas is injected to sweep the last portion of the formation.
Modifications to the above alpha olefin sul-fonate dimers and process of recovery which would be obvious to the ordinary skilled artisan are contemplated ~o to be within the scope of the invention, `:
:
q~
I
~ ~-~ Ll + ~ 1 + ~1 ~ O rl 3 3 1-1 3 1 3 1~ 1l 3 1 u) ~ m u) ~ u) ~ u, ~ c~ 1l 1l 1l ~_ C~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ZP~ P~ Z P~ Z ~ Z P~ ~ o o o C~
<I <I C~ ~ 1 .~ ~ U~ U~ 3 3 Z
a) ~) O
~) ,~
U~ ~) ~ ta U~
a) ~;
r-l U-\ O 1~ 0 Ll`
O O ~
A high value of Rl indicates that the surEactant has the capability to create a foam that strongly inhibits the flow of gas in a gas zone containing residual oil. This parameter has been used before to evaluate surfactants and gas floods.
Higher Rl values indicate more desirable surfactants. In addition, resistance factors R2 and R3 are also important for evaluating the surfactant effectiveness. ~ high value of R2 indicates thQ surfactant makes a much stronger flow inhibiting foam in a gas zone with residual oil than it makes in a gas zone with recoverable hydrocarbons. This has the effect of blocking off that portion of the formation which has been swept of recoverable hydrocarbons and forces the additional gas inje~tion to drive the recoverable hydrocarbons toward the production well. R3 values should approach one and preferably be less than 1. An R3 value less than one indicates that -the surfactant itself has the ability to actually improve the flow of recoverable hydrocarbons in the gas zone relative to the absence of surfactant. Thus, high values of Rl and R2 and a value of R3 less than 1.0 would indicate the most desirable surfactants to divert gas from the depleted zone of the reser-voir and to accelerate the growth of the gas zone and thereby to accelerate and increase the production of crude oil for a given amount of gas injection.
The surfactants of the invention are the dimers of alpha-olefin sulfonates wherein the monomers have a carbon chain length of from a~out Cs to about C24. In other words, the dimer has a chain length of C10-C4g. The dimers derived from the monomers of Cll-Clg alpha-olefin sulfonates are pre-ferred. Mixtures of the dimers can be employed to optimize the recovery of hydrocarbons from a particular formation. Further-2~ 3~
more, the dimers can be mixed with monomer alpha-olefin sul-fonates to further optimize the recovery from a particular formation. In this context reference may be made to our Canadian application 455,511 filed concurrently with this application and entitled "Alpha Olefin Sulfonate Surfactant Additives for Gas Foam Drives and a Process of Stimulating Hydrocarbon Recovery from a Subterranean Formation". The alpha-olefin sulfonates are prepared by any known process such as the procedure described in GB 2,095,309A. Suitable examples of dimers of alpha-olefin sulfonates would be the dimers of Thermophoam BW-D~, a product of the Far Best Company, Stepanflo 30~, a product of the Stepan Company, and the Alpha Olefin product sieves by Chevron Chemical Company.
The dimers can be prepared by any known process.
For example, the dimers of the monomers are complex mixtures of compounds which can be prepared by heating the monomers at a temperature above about 110C as disclosed in U.S.
Patent 3,721,707. For convenience, the mixture is referred to as alpha olefin sulfonate dimers. Of course, a specific dimer can be prepared by starting with a specific monomer.
The injection and production wells can be arranged in any pattern. For example, a two-spot, a three-spot, a regular four-spot, a skewed four-spot, a five-spot, a seven-spot, an inverted seven-spot, and the like. Suitable patterns are described in The Reservoir Engineering Aspects of Waterflooding by Forrest F. Craig, Jr., Society of Petrol-eum Engineers of AIME, 1971, page 49. Preferably, the injec-tion well is surrounded by production wells, i.e., inverted five-spot and seven-spot patters.
Any standard method of creating a gas surfactant foam is suitable for use in the invention. Preferably, the non-condensible gas is nitrogen or carbon dioxide. However the surfactant water combination must not be heated to a tem-perature at which steam formsO Alternatively, the procedures outlined in U.S. Patent 4,086,964 can be employed. In add-ition, the procedures outlined in UOS. Patents 4,085,800 and 3,412,793, can be used with producing formations that contain zones of high permeability and/or are susceptible to channel-ing. In those formations, the high permeability zones are plugged to enhance the recovery o~ hydrocarbons from the zones of lower permeability. Again, these processes must be carried out at a temperature below the steam formation temperature of the reservoir.
The foam is created by mixing water or other suit-able liquid containing the surfactant and in~ecting the non-condensible gas therein at a rate of about 5,000,000 standard cubic feet per day, (5M SCF/D). The surfactant is from about 0.01% to about 10% of the liquid phase of the gas-foam combin-ation. Preferably, the surfactant is employed in as small an amount as possible to enhance the oil receovery. This is on the order of about 0.1% to about 1% surfactant present in the liquid phase. The non-condensible gas-foam combina-tion is from about 1 to about 99% non-condensible gas and from about 99 to about 1% surfactant phase by volume. The gas-foam is in-jected into an injection well at a rate determined by reservoir characteristics and well pattern area. Typically, gas and sur-factant solution are injected into each injection well at 5M SCF/D and 2,500 barrels per day (~PD), respectively.
Optionally, the water or other suitable liquid for forming the , , ~ , -- 7~ -foam can contain other additives which enhance its properties such as scale inhibitors, cosurfactants, and the like. The water can also contain salts.
The process is carried out in the following procedure to minimize the cost of the operation. Initially, a first slug of gas is injected into the formation for a sufficient time to form a gas zone in the Ql ~
subterranean formation containing the hydrocarbons. The gas injection is continued until there is gas breakthrough 05 at the production well. This recovers the mobile oil in the gas-swept portion o the formation. Thereafter, a second slug of gas and foam surfactant is injected. ~rhis slug diverts the gas Xrom the area of breakthrough and forces it to sweep through undepleted portions of the formation to recover additional hydrocarbons. Slugs of gas and surfactant can be alternated w,ith slugs of pure gas. optionally, the slugs can be tapered compositionally from one slug into the next to form a smooth transition or ; surfactant gas injection can be continuous. Finally, pure gas is injected to sweep the last portion of the formation.
Modifications to the above alpha olefin sul-fonate dimers and process of recovery which would be obvious to the ordinary skilled artisan are contemplated ~o to be within the scope of the invention, `:
:
q~
I
Claims (15)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A process of recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation penetrated by at least one injec-tion well and at least one production well comprising:
injecting a non-condensible gas and an alplha-olefin sulfonate dimer foam at an injection well;
displacing said foam towards the production well; and recovering hydrocarbons from a production well.
injecting a non-condensible gas and an alplha-olefin sulfonate dimer foam at an injection well;
displacing said foam towards the production well; and recovering hydrocarbons from a production well.
2. The process according to Claim 1 wherein the dimer comprises from about 0.01% to about 10% of the liquid phase of the foam.
3. The process according to Claim 2 wherein a non-condensible gas is from about 1% to about 99% of the foam.
4. The process according to Claim 3 wherein the non-condensible gas is selected from the group consisting of nitroyen, carbon dioxide, CH4, air, gas, carbon monoxide and flue gas.
5. The process according to Claim 4 wherein the surfactant is the dimer of an alpha-olefin sulfonate having a monomer chain length of from about C5 to about C24.
6. The process according to Claim 4 wherein the surfactant is the dimer of an alpha-olefin sulfonate having a monomer alkyl chain of from C5 to C24.
7. The process according to Claim 6 wherein the surfactant is the dimer of an alpha-olefin sulfonate having a monomer chain length of from about C11 to about C18.
8. The process according to Claim 2 which further comprises injecting substantially pure gas into the forma-tion prior to the injection of the foam.
9. The process according to Claim 8 which further comprises injecting substantially pure gas is injected into the formation after the injection of the foam.
10. The process according to Claim 9 wherein the gas injection is tapered into a gas and surfactant foam injection which is tapered into a gas injection.
11. The process according to Claim 10 wherein the alpha-olefin dimer surfactants are injected in their salt form or the acid form.
12. The process according to Claim 11 wherein a non-condensible gas is from about 1% to about 99% of the foam.
13. The process according to Claim 11 wherein the alpha-olefin sulfonate dimers have an alkyl chain length of about C5 to C24.
14. The process according to Claim 13 wherein the alpha olefin dimer surfactant further includes alpha olefin monomer surfactants having an alkyl chain length of about C5 to C24.
15. The process according to Claim 13 wherein the surfactant is the dimer of an alpha-olefin sulfonate having a monomer chain length of from about C11 to about C18.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US507,835 | 1983-06-24 | ||
| US06/507,835 US4576232A (en) | 1983-06-24 | 1983-06-24 | Non-condensible gas injection including alpha-olefin sulfonate dimer surfactant additives and a process of stimulating hydrocarbon recovery from a subterranean formation |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1224914A true CA1224914A (en) | 1987-08-04 |
Family
ID=24020332
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000454564A Expired CA1224914A (en) | 1983-06-24 | 1984-05-17 | Sulfonate dimer surfactant additives for gas foam drives and a process of stimulating hydrocarbon recovery from a subterranean formation |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4576232A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1224914A (en) |
Families Citing this family (19)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA1277824C (en) * | 1986-08-11 | 1990-12-18 | Shigeto Suzuki | Miscible gas enhanced oil recovery method using oil-brine compatible pre-formed foam |
| US4763730A (en) * | 1986-08-11 | 1988-08-16 | Chevron Research Company | Miscible gas enhanced oil recovery method using oil-brine compatible pre-formed foam |
| US5005644A (en) * | 1987-05-28 | 1991-04-09 | Chevron Research Company | Steam enhanced oil recovery method using branched alkyl aromatic sulfonates |
| US4957646A (en) * | 1987-08-26 | 1990-09-18 | Shell Oil Company | Steam foam surfactants enriched in alpha olefin disulfonates for enhanced oil recovery |
| US5031698A (en) * | 1987-08-26 | 1991-07-16 | Shell Oil Company | Steam foam surfactants enriched in alpha olefin disulfonates for enhanced oil recovery |
| US4860828A (en) * | 1988-06-01 | 1989-08-29 | The Dow Chemical Company | Gas flooding processing for the recovery of oil from subterranean formations |
| US4856589A (en) * | 1988-08-30 | 1989-08-15 | Shell Oil Company | Gas flooding with dilute surfactant solutions |
| US5069802A (en) * | 1988-12-19 | 1991-12-03 | Shell Oil Company | Gas flood surfactants enriched in olefin disulfonate |
| US4911238A (en) * | 1988-12-19 | 1990-03-27 | Shell Oil Company | Gas flooding with surfactants enriched in olefin disulfonate |
| US4967837A (en) * | 1989-03-31 | 1990-11-06 | Chevron Research Company | Steam enhanced oil recovery method using dialkyl aromatic sulfonates |
| US5052487A (en) * | 1989-12-29 | 1991-10-01 | Chevron Research & Technology Company | Sequential injection foam process for enhanced oil recovery |
| US5076357A (en) * | 1990-05-31 | 1991-12-31 | Chevron Research & Technology Company | Method of enhancing recovery of petroleum from an oil-bearing formation |
| US5193618A (en) * | 1991-09-12 | 1993-03-16 | Chevron Research And Technology Company | Multivalent ion tolerant steam-foaming surfactant composition for use in enhanced oil recovery operations |
| US5358045A (en) * | 1993-02-12 | 1994-10-25 | Chevron Research And Technology Company, A Division Of Chevron U.S.A. Inc. | Enhanced oil recovery method employing a high temperature brine tolerant foam-forming composition |
| WO2002011874A1 (en) * | 2000-08-07 | 2002-02-14 | Sofitech N.V. | Viscoelastic wellbore treatment fluid |
| GB2365464B (en) * | 2000-08-07 | 2002-09-18 | Sofitech Nv | Scale dissolver fluid |
| US9033047B2 (en) * | 2010-11-24 | 2015-05-19 | Chevron U.S.A. Inc. | Enhanced oil recovery in low permeability reservoirs |
| CN103429696A (en) * | 2010-12-29 | 2013-12-04 | 国际壳牌研究有限公司 | Method and composition for enhanced hydrocarbons recovery from a formation containing a crude oil |
| US20140353250A1 (en) * | 2013-05-13 | 2014-12-04 | Shell Oil Company | Use of long chain internal olefin sulfonates |
Family Cites Families (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3185634A (en) * | 1961-07-14 | 1965-05-25 | Pan American Petroleum Corp | Oil recovery by foam drive |
| CA780896A (en) * | 1964-01-27 | 1968-03-19 | California Research Corporation | Normal alkenyl sulfonic acids |
| US3463231A (en) * | 1968-02-12 | 1969-08-26 | Chevron Res | Generation and use of foamed well circulation fluids |
| US3529668A (en) * | 1968-07-24 | 1970-09-22 | Union Oil Co | Foam drive oil recovery process |
| US3953338A (en) * | 1969-09-15 | 1976-04-27 | Chevron Research Company | Foam well cleanout using oligomeric sulfonic acids |
| US3721707A (en) * | 1969-09-15 | 1973-03-20 | Chevron Res | Organic sulfonic acid oligomers and production process |
| US3893511A (en) * | 1971-06-09 | 1975-07-08 | Sun Oil Co | Foam recovery process |
| US3951823A (en) * | 1972-07-28 | 1976-04-20 | Chevron Research Company | Foam well cleanout using oligomeric sulfonates |
| US4085800A (en) * | 1976-12-07 | 1978-04-25 | Phillips Petroleum Company | Plugging earth strata |
| US4393937A (en) * | 1981-03-25 | 1983-07-19 | Shell Oil Company | Olefin sulfonate-improved steam foam drive |
| US4417088A (en) * | 1981-09-25 | 1983-11-22 | Chevron Research Company | Oligomerization of liquid olefins |
-
1983
- 1983-06-24 US US06/507,835 patent/US4576232A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1984
- 1984-05-17 CA CA000454564A patent/CA1224914A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US4576232A (en) | 1986-03-18 |
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