The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 30, 1976
Filed:
Jul. 03, 1975
Robert N Healy, Houston, TX (US);
Walter W Gale, Houston, TX (US);
Exxon Production Research Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
Crude oil remaining in a subterranean formation is recovered through the injection of a microemulsion comprising an oil, i.e. a refined or crude oil, an aqueous medium and as a surfactant, a C.sub.8-16 orthoxylene sulfonate. The aqueous medium is preferably a brine having a salt concentration of up to about 2 1/2% by weight, although increased brine tolerance can be achieved by inclusion of a cosurfactant within the microemulsion. When utilized in the secondary or tertiary recovery of crude oil, the microemulsion is preferably followed by thickened water and thereafter unthickened water injected into and through the subterranean formation.