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. 17, 1987
Filed:
Dec. 03, 1984
Applicant:
Inventor:
LeRoy W Holm, Fullerton, CA (US);
Assignee:
Union Oil Company of California, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
E21B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
166273 ; 166274 ;
Abstract
The permeability of higher permeability zones of a subterranean reservoir of heterogeneous permeability is reduced by injecting an aqueous solution of a water soluble surface active agent and then a gas mixture comprising carbon dioxide and a noncondensible, non-hydrocarbon gas insoluble in viscous crude. A stable foam forms in situ useful for blocking escape of solvent fluids into the higher permeability zones of the reservoir during enhanced recovery, typically by carbon dioxide flooding. Preferably, the solution of surface active agent and the gas mixture are injected in alternating slugs to enhance foam formation.