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Oil recovery process using polymer microemulsion complexes

  • US 4,360,061 A
  • Filed: 04/03/1980
  • Issued: 11/23/1982
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1980
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A process for recovering crude oil from a subterranean formation which comprises injecting into the formation a stabilized microemulsion system which contains a polymer-microemulsion complex in an amount effective to displace oil, said microemulsion system comprising(a) a microemulsion containing as components(1) an oil,(2) water having up to 25% by weight of dissolved inorganic salts, and(3) 0.2 to 15 wt. %, based on the microemulsion, of at least one anionic surfactant balanced to form the microemulsion, and(b) from 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on the microemulsion of a polar polymer capable of forming a polymer-microemulsion complex wherein the polar polymer has a molecular weight of from 4,000 to 5,000,000 and is selected from the group consisting of branched polyethylene oxide condensation product of polyethylene oxide, bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin and polyvinyl pyrrolidone, the polymer-microemulsion complex being characterized by a complexation energy of at least 2 Kcal/mole, driving the microemulsion system through the formation to displace oil, and recovering the resultant crude oil.

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