초록 ▼

Liquid crystals are used in place of microemulsions in a process for chemically enhanced oil recovery. The liquid crystals compositions contain ethoxylated surfactants having appropriately balanced hydrophilic-lipophilic properties. These compositions result in a faster and greater recovery of crude

Liquid crystals are used in place of microemulsions in a process for chemically enhanced oil recovery. The liquid crystals compositions contain ethoxylated surfactants having appropriately balanced hydrophilic-lipophilic properties. These compositions result in a faster and greater recovery of crude oil as compared to microemulsions.

대표청구항 ▼

A process for recovering oil from an oil bearing formation in the presence of highly concentrated brine which comprises displacing oil with a middle phase primary displacement liquid containing lamellar liquid crystals which exhibit decreasing viscosities at increasing shear rates and consist essent

A process for recovering oil from an oil bearing formation in the presence of highly concentrated brine which comprises displacing oil with a middle phase primary displacement liquid containing lamellar liquid crystals which exhibit decreasing viscosities at increasing shear rates and consist essentially of (a) 0.5 to 10 vol.% of surfactant or combination of surfactants wherein at least one surfactant component is appropriately ethoxylated to obtain a balanced hydrophilic-lipophilic character, and providing a liquid crystalline middle phase containing oil and brine, (b) 0.1 to 20 vol.% of an oil, and (c) brine similar to that found in the formation and containing from about 5 to 30 wt.% of inorganic salts having sodium chloride as the major component and salts of divalent metals as minor components, said middle phase liquid containing lamellar liquid crystals being free from alcohol cosurfactant driving the liquid through the formation, and recovering the displaced oil.