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:
May. 11, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 28, 2001
Ramesh Varadaraj, Flemington, NJ (US);
James R. Bragg, Houston, TX (US);
Monte K. Dobson, Bellaire, TX (US);
Dennis G. Peiffer, Annandale, NJ (US);
John S. Huang, Annandale, NJ (US);
Donald B. Siano, Westfield, NJ (US);
Cornelius H. Brons, Washington, NJ (US);
Chester W. Elspass, Alpha, NJ (US);
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A method for enhancing the stability of a solids-stabilized water-in-oil emulsion by pretreating the oil prior to emulsification. The pretreatment step can be accomplished by adding dilute acid to the oil, adding a lignosulfonate additive to the oil, sulfonating the oil, thermally oxidizing the oil, thermally treating the oil in an inert environment, and combinations thereof. The emulsion can be used in enhanced oil recovery methods, including using the emulsion as a drive fluid to displace hydrocarbons in a subterranean formation, and using the emulsion as a barrier fluid for diverting flow of fluids in the formation.