Suspensions for enhanced oil recovery

• US 9,587,788 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2011
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sanders, Aaron W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Washville, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US13/701,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20130068312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,104 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2215/0431 Numerical size values, e.g. diameter of a hole or conduit, area, volume, length, width, or ratios thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2215/044 Numerical composition values of components or mixtures, e.g. percentage of components
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2215/045 Numerical flow-rate values
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31331 Perforated, multi-opening, with a plurality of holes
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/584 characterised by the use of specific surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/594 Compositions used in combination with injected gas , e.g. CO2 orcarbonated gasC09K8/592 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/164 Injecting CO2 or carbonated water in combination with organic material C09K8/594
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/24 using heat, e.g. steam injection
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 1/08 for liquids or viscous products water-main or service pipe systems E03B7/04; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 3/12 for injecting a composition into the line
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/54 using solvents, e.g. supercritical solvents or ionic liquids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87571 Multiple inlet with single outlet

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include suspensions for use in enhanced oil recovery, and methods of using the suspensions for recovering oil. Suspensions of the present disclosure include a nonionic surfactant that can dissolve in supercritical carbon dioxide, and a metal salt having a concentration of 200 to 1 parts-per-million.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

supplying supercritical carbon dioxide through piping; and

introducing a suspension having a nonionic surfactant and a metal salt into the supercritical carbon dioxide in the piping, the suspension having a metal salt concentration of 200 to 1 parts-per-million, wherein the metal salt is produced in forming the nonionic surfactant.

2. The method of claim 1, including depositing at least a portion of the metal salt on at least a portion of the piping;

and

dissolving the metal salt from at least the portion of the piping with an aqueous solution.

3. The method of claim 1, where the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an alkylphenol alkoxylate, an alkyl alkoxylate and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, where the metal salt is selected from the group consisting of a carboxylate, a boron salt, a titanium salt, a metal carbonate, a metal chloride, a metal sulfate, a metal phosphate, a metal sulphonate, a metal phosphonate, a metal-cyanide salt, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, including exposing the suspension to an oxidizing agent prior to introducing the suspension into the supercritical carbon dioxide.

6. The method of claim 1, including forming a carboxylic acid in the suspension prior to introducing the suspension into the supercritical carbon dioxide.

7. A method, comprising:

supplying supercritical carbon dioxide through piping;

introducing a suspension having a nonionic surfactant and a metal salt into the supercritical carbon dioxide in the piping the suspension having a metal salt concentration of 200 to 1 parts-per-million, wherein the metal salt is produced in forming the nonionic surfactant;

depositing at least a portion of the metal salt on at least a portion of the piping; and

dissolving the metal salt from at least the portion of the piping with an aqueous solution.

8. The method of claim 7, where the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an alkylphenol alkoxylate, an alkyl alkoxylate and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 7, where the metal salt is selected from the group consisting of a carboxylate, a boron salt, a titanium salt, a metal carbonate, a metal chloride, a metal sulfate, a metal phosphate, a metal sulphonate, a metal phosphonate, a metal-cyanide salt, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 7, including exposing the suspension to an oxidizing agent prior to introducing the suspension into the supercritical carbon dioxide.

11. The method of claim 7, including forming a carboxylic acid in the suspension prior to introducing the suspension into the supercritical carbon dioxide.