Petroleum recovery process

• US 3,953,342 A
• Filed: 05/08/1974
• Issued: 04/27/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Calgon Carbon Corporation (Kuraray Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Calgon Carbon Corporation (Kuraray Company Limited)
• Inventors: Guilbault, Lawrence James, Martin, Fred David
• Primary Examiner(s): Guynn, Herbert B.
• Application Number:
  US05/468,036
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 252/8.55 D, 252/188, 166/273, 166/274, 166/275
• US Class Current: 507/225
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/588 characterised by the use of specific polymers polymeric surfactants C09K8/584
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 507/936 Flooding the formation

Abstract

Use of dialdehydes to maintain or increase solution viscosity of polymer compositions useful in oil recovery processes. In particular, the dialdehydes are used to maintain or enhance the effectiveness of polymers used as viscosity increasing agents in aqueous oil displacement media in the secondary and tertiary recovery of oil.

Claims

1. A process for the secondary or tertiary recovery of petroleum from subterranean formations penetrated by an injection well and a producing well which comprises introducing into said reservoir through said injection well a substantially oxygen free displacing medium comprising water, a high molecular weight water-soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide and copolymers of acrylamide and 2-acrylamido methylpropane sulfonic acid and from about 0.1 to about 10 moles of glyoxal per mole of amide constituent of said polymer in order to increase the solution viscosity of said displacing medium.

2. A process as in claim 1 wherein the polymer solution and glyoxal are mixed prior to injection thereof.

3. A process as in claim 1 wherein the polymer and glyoxal are added concurrently to the system.