Texaco Development Corporation

Walter D Hunter

Jack H Park

Hydrocarbons are recovered from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well by displacing hydrocarbons toward the production well using a drive fluid such as water thickened with polyacrylamide or partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide alkoxylated with an alkylene oxide and, if desired, a small amount of a sulfonated, alkoxylated polyacrylamide, i.e., an N-substituted polyacrylamide having N-substituents of the formula:

Process for secondary recovery

Hydrocarbons are recovered from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well by displacing hydrocarbons toward the production well using a drive fluid such as water thickened with a copolymer of acrylamide and vinyl sulfonic acid or salts thereof or with a copolymer of acrylamide and styrene sulfonic acid or salts thereof as well as these same copolymers alkoxylated with an alkylene oxide. Optionally, the drive fluid can be saturated with carbon dioxide, nitrogen, natural gas or mixtures of these gases.

Hydrocarbons are recovered from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well by displacing hydrocarbons toward the production well using a drive fluid such as water thickened with polyacrylamide or partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide alkoxylated with an alkylene oxide and, if desired, a small amount of a sulfated, alkoxylated polyacrylamide, i.e., an N-substituted polyacrylamide having N-substituents of the formula:

Hydrocarbons are recovered from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well by displacing hydrocarbons toward the production well using a drive fluid such as water or brine, thickened with a copolymer of acrylamide and diacetone acrylamide alkoxylated with an alkylene oxide or glycidol, optionally sulfated or sulfonated. If desired, said drive fluid can be saturated with carbon dioxide, nitrogen, natural gas or mixtures of these gases at the injection pressure.

Secondary recovery method

Asphaltic compositions having improved elastic properties and improved adhesion to aggregate particles as well as a high degree of resistance to stripping action are provided which comprise a major amount of asphalt and a minor amount of terpolymer of ethylene, vinyl acetate or vinyl chloride and an organic acid alkoxylated with about 1 to about 10 weight percent of an alkylene oxide. Optionally, the composition may contain a minor amount of a synthetic terpenic resin.

Asphaltic compositions containing alkoxylated terpolymers

Hydrocarbons are recovered from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well by displacing hydrocarbons toward the production well using a drive fluid such as water thickened with polyacrylamide or partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide or the sodium, potassium or ammonium salt thereof and a minor amount of polyacrylamide or partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide or the sodium, potassium or ammonium salt thereof alkoxylated with an alkylene oxide. Optionally, the drive fluid can be saturated with carbon dioxide and/or natural gas at the injection pressure. An aqueous fracturing fluid containing a small amount of alkoxylated polyacrylamide or partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide is also described.

Propping agent for fracturing fluids

Hydrocarbons are recovered from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well by displacing hydrocarbons toward the production well using a drive fluid such as water thickened with a copolymer of acrylamide and vinyl sulfonic acid or salts thereof and saturated with carbon dioxide and/or natural gas at the injection pressure. If desired, the drive fluid may contain a small amount of a sulfated or sulfonated, ethoxylated acrylic acid polymer.

Sulfated ethoxylated acrylic acid polymer product

Hydrocarbons are recovered from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well by displacing hydrocarbons toward the production well using a drive fluid such as water thickened with a copolymer of (a) vinyl sulfonic acid alkoxylated with ethylene oxide or a mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide and (b) acrylamide. Optionally, the drive fluid can be saturated with carbon dioxide and/or natural gas at the injection pressure.

Secondary recovery process

Hydrocarbons are recovered from subterranean formations by injecting into a hydrocarbon bearing formation via an injection well a fluid comprising water containing a small amount of a water-soluble, ethoxylated, sulfonated poly-(2,6-dialkyl phenol), forcing the said fluid through the formation and recovering hydrocarbons through a production well. The fluids employed may, if desired, contain an alkaline agent such as sodium hydroxide. Optionally, the fluids can be saturated with carbon dioxide and/or natural gas at the injection pressure.

Secondary recovery process utilizing thickened water

Hydrocarbons are recovered from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well by displacing hydrocarbons toward the production well using a drive fluid such as water thickened with a copolymer of (a) vinyl sulfonic acid alkoxylated with 2,3-epoxy-1-propanol and (b) acrylamide. Optionally, the drive fluid can be saturated with carbon dioxide and/or natural gas at the injection pressure.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Walter D Hunter