Mobil Oil Corporation

Krishnaswamy Sampath

Craig H Phelps

Paul Shu

Frederick C Schwab

Harold S Chung

A method for reducing the gelation time of a biopolysaccharide which utilizes a hydroxide of an alkaline earth metal in an aqueous solution containing said biopolysaccharide wherein the mixture is afterwards complexed with a polyvalent metal ion. The resultant stable gel can be injected into a hydrocarbonaceous fluid formation for the recovery of hydrocarbonaceous fluids.

Sodium hydroxide treatment of field water in a biopolymer complex

A process for the selective gelation of a polymer for profile control during carbon dioxide flooding. First, a size selective gel is formed ex-situ. Upon entering a thief zone or a more permeable low pH zone resultant from carbon-dioxide flooding, the gel forms a solid, firm gel. This gel comprises an aqueous composition of a partially and fully alkylated melamine resin and an xanthan polymer. Size selectivity is imparted by the partially alkylated resin and the polymer. Upon contact with the low pH environment, active melamine resin is released from the fully alkylated resin which reacts with the polymer to form a stable, solid gel. Once the solid gel has formed, steam-flooding, water-flooding or a carbon-dioxide oil recovery process is commenced in a zone where a solid gel has not formed.

Selective gelation polymer for profile control in CO.sub.2 flooding

A process for minimizing gravity override via carbon dioxide combined with a sized gel. A polysaccharide gel of a size sufficiently greater than the pores contained in a more permeable formation area is prepared ex situ in the presence of sodium hydroxide. Said gel is then pumped into said formation causing pores in the more permeable formation area to be blocked off. Thereafter, carbon dioxide flooding is commenced and said flood is directed into the less permeable formation area causing hydrocarbonaceous fluids to be produced therefrom.

Minimizing gravity override of carbon dioxide with a gel

The permeability of a subterranean oil-bearing formation is controlled by the injection of an aqueous solution of a block copolymer containing polar and non-polar segments, with the polar segments generally making up at least 50 percent, usually 60 to 99 percent, of the copolymer. The polar segments are derived from an alkylene oxide and the non-polar segments from styrene or an alkyl styrene either by itself or with a diene. The copolymers may be cross-linked with polyvalent metal ions such as chromium and are normally used in solution concentrations of 1000-10,000 ppm. Diene units in the non-polar segment may be hydrogenated to reduce residual unsaturation and solubilizing functional groups such as sulfonate or hydroxyl may be present to improve water solubility.

Oil reservoir permeability control

The polyvalent metal ion complex of a fungal polysaccharide, e.g. scleroglucan, aqueous fluids thickened thereby and enhanced oil production processes utilizing said thickened aqueous fluids.

Oil recovery process employing a complexed polysaccharide

A flow cell assembly for studying fluid flow through a disc-shaped sample, comprising inlet and outlet housings which are positioned on opposite sides of the test sample by means of sealing rings having a flat gasket which contacts the face of the test sample and an O-ring which contacts the inside edge of inlet and outlet chambers formed in the housings. Assembly is such that the housings are spaced apart when the sample is positioned therebetween. The peripheral outer edge of the sample is sealed against leaking by a coating of a two-part epoxy and/or a heat shrink material tape.

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Carrollton, TX, United States of America

Krishnaswamy Sampath