Atlantic Richfield Company

Perkins, Thomas K.

Pathak, Prabodh

Salter, Stephen J.

Gonzalez, Jay A.

Prabodh Pathak

Stephen J Salter

Thomas K Perkins

Jay A Gonzalez

An enhanced oil recovery process comprises injection of water into a subterranean formation followed by the injection of a surfactant such as a micellar fluid and a thickening agent such as a polymer solution to drive oil toward a production well. Temperatures and pressures of injection of the water, surfactant, and thickening agent are controlled so as to thermoelastically fracture the formation behind the oil-water bank to increase the injectivity rate and propagation rate of the slugs of fluids behind the oil-water bank to control the shape of the flood front and to minimize misdirected fracturing ahead of the flood front.

Enhanced hydrocarbon recovery process utilizing thermoelastic fracturing

The effective permeability of subterranean hydrocarbon bearing formations with respect to surfactant and drive fluid injection processes is enhanced by preceding the surfactant fluid injection step with creation of multiple formation fractures using tailored pressure pulses produced by gas generating propellant canisters disposed in the injection well. Fluid injectivity rates are increased by subsequent fracture extensions provided by repeated steps of generating high pressure gas pulses at selected intervals.

Chemical flooding and controlled pressure pulse fracturing process for

Growing community of inventors

Plano, TX, United States of America

Prabodh Pathak