COMPOSITIONS FOR ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY
First Claim
1. A composition comprising(a) a dialkyl dimethyl ammonium surfactant or a mixture of two or more thereof;
- (b) an amphoteric surfactant or a mixture of two or more thereof; and
(c) a solvent selected from a water source, a coupling agent, or a mixture of two or more thereof,wherein the composition excludes anionic surfactants and nonionic surfactants.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for increasing recovery, or flowback, of hydrocarbon compounds from hydrocarbon-containing subterranean reservoirs. The compositions include a dialkyl dimethyl ammonium surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, and a solvent. The concentrated compositions are storage stable and easily diluted with a water source such as produced water to form injectates suitable for injecting into one or more hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean reservoirs. The injectates convert oil-wet rocks to water-wet but do not cause formation of emulsions with hydrocarbon compounds within the subterranean environment. Injection of the injectates into a reservoir results in an increase in the yield of hydrocarbons recovered, in particular from low permeability, low porosity reservoirs such as those formed by or encountered in hydraulic fracturing and/or in certain geographic locations.
8 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A composition comprising
(a) a dialkyl dimethyl ammonium surfactant or a mixture of two or more thereof; -
(b) an amphoteric surfactant or a mixture of two or more thereof; and (c) a solvent selected from a water source, a coupling agent, or a mixture of two or more thereof, wherein the composition excludes anionic surfactants and nonionic surfactants. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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5. (canceled)
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14. A method of increasing recovery of a hydrocarbon from a subterranean reservoir, the method comprising:
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combining a dialkyl dimethyl ammonium surfactant or a mixture of two or more thereof, an amphoteric surfactant or a mixture of two or more thereof, a coupling agent or a mixture of two or more thereof, and a water source to form an injectate, the injectate comprising 10 ppm to 10,000 ppm total surfactant based on the weight of the injectate; injecting the injectate into the subterranean reservoir; and collecting a hydrocarbon from the subterranean reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22-23. -23. (canceled)
Specification