Texaco Inc.

William Schoen

Thad O Walker

Donald J Dowling

Mohan V Kudchadker

Will A Ledoux

Atul Kumar

A process for producing petroleum from subterranean formations is disclosed wherein production from the formation is obtained by driving a fluid from an injection well to a production well. The process involves injecting into the formation via the injection well asphaltenes as sacrificial agents to inhibit the deposition of chemical recovery agents such as surfactant on the reservoir matrix. Normally the process would be carried out by first injecting the asphaltenes into the formation through the injection well and following them with a chemical recovery agent. The chemical recovery agent would then be followed by a drive fluid such as water to push the materials to the production well.

Asphaltenes as sacrificial agents in oil recovery processes

Apparatus and method for measuring oil flowing in a pipe include continuously sampling the cil to provide a stream of sample oil. The temperature of the sample oil is changed by a predetermined amount. The acoustical velocity of the sample oil is determined prior to the temperature change and after the temperature change by sensors providing corresponding signals. A circuit provides a signal corresponding to the water content of the oil in accordance with the acoustical velocity and the known temperature change.

Apparatus and method for measuring the water content of oil flowing in a

Ethoxylated asphalt solutions have high tolerance for sodium and calcium ions as well as magnesium and other divalent ions. The use of ethoxylated asphalts in combination with other surfactants that normally precipitate out in the presence of these cations results in a stable surfactant solution wherein the surfactant will not precipitate out and wherein the surfactant solution has the ability to efficiently sweep oil from subterranean hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Growing community of inventors

Missouri City, TX, United States of America

William Schoen