Abstract:
A process for recovering oil from subterranean reservoirs having connate water containing dissolved divalent metal cations in which small slugs of (1) aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution, (2) a dilute aqueous alkaline alkali metal silicate solution, and (3) a dilute aqueous solution of an agent that reacts with the alkali metal silicate to form a gelatinous precipitate are alternatively injected into the reservoir through one or more injection wells. A small slug of water is injected between successive slugs of the reactant solutions to separate the reactants during injection. Also, alkali metal carbonate can be incorporated into the aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution, or aqueous alkali metal carbonate solution can be injected immediately preceding the alkali metal hydroxide solution.
Abstract:
A device for installation in a flow conduit for mixing fluids flowing through the conduit. The device consists of an elongated body member containing a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertured mixing elements, the mixing elements being comprised of solid plugs having lengths equal to at least one quarter of their diameter and having a plurality of angularly disposed apertures therethrough. The angle of the apertures can be reversed in adjacent mixing elements to improve fluid mixing.
Abstract:
A process for recovering oil from heterogeneous petroleum reservoirs in which there is successively injected into the reservoir through one or more injection wells (1) an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer dissolved in substantially salt-free water, (2) a solvent miscible with the reservoir oil, and (3) an aqueous drive fluid; and wherein oil is recovered from one or more production wells spaced apart in the reservoir from the injection well. The polymer is selected to obtain mobility reduction in the more permeable zones without causing plugging of these zones.
Abstract:
A process for recovering petroleum from subterranean oil-bearing formations in which a viscous flooding medium comprising a dilute aqueous solution of a copolymer of acrylamide and diacetoneacrylamide is introduced into the oil-bearing formation through one or more injection wells and forced toward at least one spaced production well.
Abstract:
The deposition of fouling deposits within process equipment operated at elevated temperatures in the presence of hydrocarbons is reduced by combining with the liquid hydrocarbon a foulant inhibiting amount of mechanically degraded polyisobutylene.
Abstract:
A NOVEL WATER-SOLUBLE TERPOLYMER OF ACRYLIC ACID, ACRYLAMIDE AND DIACETONE ACRYLAMIDE USEFUL AS A FLOOD WATER ADDITIVE AND A METHOD FOR PREPARING THE POLYMER IN WHICH THE MONOMERS ARE COPOLYMERIZED IN THE PREENCE OF AN ORGANOBORON CATALYST.
Abstract:
The injection rate of water into water injection wells that exhibit low injectivity because of oil saturation in the formation adjacent to the well can be increased by introducing a small quantity of a dilute aqueous solution of alkaline alkali metal silicate through the injection well, and thereafter displacing this solution into the formation with subsequently injected flood water. The dilute aqueous alkaline alkali metal silicate solution can be injected as an oil-in-water emulsion of the solution and a crude petroleum of the type that exhibits reduced interfacial tension with water at high pH.