Texaco Inc.

Jerry L Sides

Walter H Carter

Disclosed is a tracer fluid for use in connection with surfactant waterflooding or other chemicalized enhanced oil, recovery processes, and an oil recovery process using the fluid. Fluids containing easily identifiable components such as water-soluble, inorganic salts, specifically water-soluble nitrate salts, as well as low molecular weight alcohols may be used as tracer fluids for determining numerous flow and formation conditions between injection wells and production wells. Many of the most desirable tracers are degraded by bacteria present in field water or surface contamination. Incorporation of from 10 to 2000 and preferably from 50 to 1500 parts per million of an aromatic treating compound, preferably benzene, toluene, or xylene, stabilizes the chemical tracer against microbial attack.

Tracer fluids for enhanced oil recovery

Disclosed is a tracer fluid for use in connection with surfactant waterflooding or other chemicalized enhanced oil recovery processes, and an oil recovery process using the fluid. Fluids containing easily identifiable components such as water-soluble, inorganic salts, specifically water-soluble nitrate salts, as well as low molecular weight alcohols may be used as tracer fluids for determining numerous flow and formation conditions between injection wells and production wells. Many of the most desirable tracers are degraded by bacteria present in field water or surface contamination. Incorporation of from 10 to 2000 and preferably from 50 to 1500 parts per million of an aromatic treating compound, preferably benzene, toluene, or xylene, stabilizes the chemical tracer against microbial attack.

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Stafford, TX, United States of America

Jerry L Sides