Exxon Production Research Company

Rhoderick K Saunders

Thomas L Ashcraft

Walter W Gale

Ronald L Reed

Maura C Puerto

A method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation is disclosed wherein a novel solution is injected into and driven through the formation. The solution contains an effective amount of surface-active agent having the general formula

Propoxylated ethoxylated surfactants and method of recovering oil

A method is disclosed for recovering oil from a subterranean oil-bearing formation wherein a liquid solution in injected into and driven through the formation and oil is recovered from the formation. The liquid solution contains an effective amount of a surface-active agent having the general formula: ##EQU1## or ##EQU2## wherein R.sub.1 is a benzene, toluene, or xylene radical having a linear or branched alkyl substituent containing from 6 to 24 carbon atoms;

Oil recovery method using a surfactant

One embodiment includes an oil recovery process, more particularly a secondary or tertiary type crude oil recovery process utilizing a drive fluid to move a displacing fluid through a subterranean formation wherein the displacing fluid displaces crude oil therefrom and is driven through the formation by means of the drive fluid. The crude oil recovery process is improved by utilizing as the drive fluid a thickened, transparent, aqueous solution of a water-soluble sulfated, polyethoxylated C.sub.10 -C.sub.18 primary alcohol or alkylated phenol. The displacing fluid is generally an aqueous surfactant solution, a miscible displacing medium or most preferably a microemulsion. In a further embodiment, the water-soluble, polyethoxylated C.sub.10 -C.sub.18 primary alcohol or alkylated phenol is employed as a mobility control agent in a waterflood thereby increasing the sweep efficiency thereof.

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Baytown, TX, United States of America

Rhoderick K Saunders