Abstract: The invention is a method for improving conformance during a carbon dioxide foam flood, which comprises injecting into the formation an aqueous solution of about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of a carbon dioxide foaming surfactant, and about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of a lignosulfonate-acrylic acid graft copolymer having about 2% to about 70% by weight of acrylic acid, and injecting into the formation carbon dioxide to sweep the hydrocarbons towards a production well for recovery.

Abstract: A method for reducing the permeability of a region of an underground formation by injecting a gelant solution that forms a stable gel into the region is disclosed. The gelant solution includes an aqueous solvent, about 2% to about 16% by weight of a lignosulfonate-acrylic acid graft copolymer and a sufficient concentration of a crosslinking agent to crosslink the copolymer. The lignosulfonate-acrylic acid copolymer used in the invention has an acrylic acid content of about 10% to about 50% by weight and the crosslinking agent is a complex of one or more positively charged chromium (III) species and one or more negatively charged carboxylate species. Preferably, the chromium (III) species used in the invention has a concentration of about 0.1% to about 8.0% by weight. In one preferred embodiment, the carboxylate species of the crosslinker may be selected from formate, acetate, propionate, lactate, oxalate and malonate.

Abstract: A sacrificial agent method employing lignosulfonate-acrylic acid graft copolymers to reduce chemical loss to the formation during hydrocarbon recovery by surfactant system injection and sweep through an underground formation.

Abstract: The invention is a method of moving hydrocarbons through an underground formation for later recovery which comprises injecting an aqueous surfactant system having about 0.5% to about 10% of one or more surfactants and about 0.5% to about 10% of an alkoxylated dialkylate having the formula:R.sub.1 (R.sub.3 O).sub.n R.sub.2wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are alkyl chains having about 3 to about 30 carbon atoms, R.sub.3 is C.sub.2 H.sub.4, C.sub.3 H.sub.6 or a mixture of C.sub.2 H.sub.4 and C.sub.3 H.sub.6, and n equals about 4 to about 300.

Abstract: A sacrificial agent solution which is compatible with high molecular weight mobility control polymers for enhanced oil recovery, said solution comprising about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of a lignosulfonate and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a polyalkylene glycol having a relatively low molecular weight.

Abstract: The invention is a method for lowering the oxygen content of an aqueous polymer solution below 100 ppb, which comprises recirculating an aqueous polymer solution through microporous hollow fibers grouped in a module having an air tight interior which surrounds the hollow fibers. A vacuum is applied to the interior of the fiber module to enhance transportation of oxygen through the walls of the hollow fibers and out of the module interior.

Abstract: The disclosed sacrificial agent invention is a method of injecting a solution containing about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of a mixture of at least two sacrificial agents, wherein one sacrificial agent is a lignosulfonate and the second sacrificial agent is a carbohydrate, more specifically, a starch or cellulose derivative. The starch or cellulose derivative suitable for the second sacrificial agent can be found in the group comprising alkoxylated starch, esterified starch, oxidized starch, phosphated starch, alkoxylated cellulose, carboxyalkyl cellulose, carboxyalkylalkoxylated cellulose, alkylalkoxylated cellulose, cellulose sulfates and cellulose acetate sulfates.

Abstract: A process for producing petroleum from subterranean formations is disclosed wherein production from the formation is obtained by driving a fluid from an injection well to a production well. The process involves injecting via the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of modified lignosulfonate salt as a sacrificial agent to inhibit the deposition of surfactant and/or polymer on the reservoir matrix. The process may best be carried out by injecting the modified lignosulfonates into the formation through the injection well mixed with either a polymer, a surfactant solution and/or a micellar dispersion. This mixture would then be followed by a drive fluid such as water to push the chemicals to the production well. The lignosulfonates may be modified by any combination of any two or more of: reaction with chloroacetic acid, reaction with carbon dioxide, addition of the methylene sulfonate radical to the lignosulfonate molecule and oxidation with oxygen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel surfactant, a method for making the surfactant and an aqueous fluid containing the surfactant which is effective for recovering petroleum from a high temperature formation containing high salinity water. The surfactant fluid is an aqueous fluid containing an organic sulfonate such as petroleum sulfonate and a solubilizing cosurfactant which is a sulfated or sulfonated, polyethoxylated alkylthiol, or a sulfated or sulfonated, polyethoxylated alkylarylthiol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel surfactant fluid and an oil recovery method using the fluid for recovering oil from subterranean formations thereof by surfactant waterflooding process. The fluid comprises water and at least one surfactant, preferably including an alkylpolyalkoxyalkylene sulfonate or an alkylarylpolyalkoxyalkylene sulfonate and as an additive for reducing the rigidity of the interfacial film, a silica-polydialkylsiloxane such as a silica-polydimethylsiloxane. Reduction in rididity of the interfacial film occupied by surfactant molecules of which the hydrophobic portion is dissolved in the oil phase and the hydrophilic portion is dissolved in the aqueous phase, improves the effectiveness of the surfactant fluid for recovering oil from subterranean formations.

Abstract: An improved surfactant waterflood method for the recovery of oil from a subterranean reservoir utilizing an anionic surface-active agent wherein an aqueous postflush slug containing a nonionic solubilizer is employed to minimize retention of the surface-active agent in the reservoir matrix.

Abstract: A process for producing petroleum from subterranean formations is disclosed wherein production from the formation is obtained by driving a fluid from an injection well to a production well. The process involves injecting via the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of sulfomethylated lignosulfonate salt as a sacrificial agent to inhibit the deposition of surfactant and/or polymer on the reservoir matrix. The process may best be carried out by injecting the sulfomethylated lignosulfonates into the formation through the injection well mixed with either a polymer, a surfactant solution and/or a micellar dispersion. This mixture would then be followed by a drive fluid such as water to push the chemicals to the production well.

Abstract: A process for producing petroleum from subterranean formations is disclosed wherein production from the formation is obtained by driving a fluid from an injection well to a production well. The process involves injecting via the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of lignosulfonates carboxylated with chloroacetic acid as a sacrificial agent to inhibit the deposition of surfactant and/or polymer on the reservoir matrix. The process may best be carried out by injecting the lignosulfonates carboxylated with chloroacetic acid into the formation through the injection well mixed with either a polymer, a surfactant solution and/or a micellar dispersion. This mixture would then be followed by a drive fluid such as water to push the chemicals to the production well.

Abstract: A process for producing petroleum from subterranean formations is disclosed wherein production from the formation is obtained by driving a fluid from an injection well to a production well. The process involves injecting via the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of lignosulfonate salt carboxylated with carbon dioxide as a sacrificial agent to inhibit the deposition of surfactant and/or polymer on the reservoir matrix. The process may best be carried out by injecting the lignosulfonates carboxylated with carbon dioxide into the formation through the injection well mixed with either a polymer, a surfactant solution and/or a micellar dispersion. This mixture would then be followed by a drive fluid such as water to push the chemicals to the production well.

Abstract: A process for producing petroleum from subterranean formations is disclosed wherein production from the formation is obtained by driving a fluid from an injection well to a production well. The process involves injecting via the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of lignosulfonate salt modified by alkoxylation as a sacrificial agent to inhibit the deposition of surfactant and/or polymer on the reservoir matrix. The process may best be carried out by injecting the lignosulfonates modified by alkoxylation into the formation through the injection well mixed with either a polymer, a surfactant solution and/or a micellar dispersion. This mixture would then be followed by a drive fluid such as water to push the chemicals to the production well.

Abstract: A process for producing petroleum from subterranean formations is disclosed wherein production from the formation is obtained by driving a fluid from an injection well to a production well. The process involves injecting via the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of lignosulfonate salt as a sacrificial agent to inhibit the deposition of surfactant and/or polymer on the reservoir matrix. The process may best be carried out by injecting the lignosulfonates into the formation through the injection well mixed with either a polymer or surfactant solution and/or a micellar dispersion. This mixture would then be followed by a drive fluid such as water to push the chemicals to the production well. The surfactant solution comprises a mixture of petroleum sulfonate and an alkyl benzene alkoxylated sulfonate. In another embodiment, the surfactant solution comprises sulfonated alkoxylated alkyl surfactants and/or alkyl benzene alkoxylated sulfonates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel surfactant fluid and an oil recovery method using the fluid for recovering oil from subterranean formations thereof by surfactant waterflooding process. The fluid comprises an alkylpolyalkoxyalkylene sulfonate or an alkylarylpolyalkoxyalkylene sulfonate and a stabilizing agent comprising a synergistic mixture of an alkanol and an alkyl phenol. The presence of the mixture of alkanol and phenol improves the phase stability of the fluid, increases the viscosity of the surfactant fluid, and reduces the adsorption of surfactant by the formation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating subterranean earth formations containing appreciable amounts of water-sensitive clays, including petroleum-containing formations, in order to render the clay content of the formation less sensitive to swelling and other phenomena which cause reductions in permeability of the earth formation when the clay content is contacted with relatively fresh water. The method involves contacting the clay with an aqueous solution of a chelated polyvalent metal ion, specifically chelated transition metal ions, including magnesium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, ruthenium, rhodium, silver, cadmium, iridium, platinum, gold, mercury and lead.

Abstract: A process for producing petroleum from subterranean formations is disclosed wherein production from the formation is obtained by driving a fluid from an injection well to a production well. The process involves injecting via the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of lignosulfonate-formaldehyde condensation products as a sacrificial agent to inhibit the deposition of surfactant and/or polymer on the reservoir matrix. The process may best be carried out by injecting the lignosulfonate-formaldehyde condensation products into the formation through the injection well mixed with either a polymer, a surfactant solution and/or a micellar dispersion. This mixture would then be followed by a drive fluid such as water to push the chemicals to the production well.

Abstract: A process for producing petroleum from subterranean formations is disclosed wherein production from the formation is obtained by driving a fluid from an injection well to a production well. The process involves injecting via the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of oxidized lignosulfonate salt as a sacrificial agent to inhibit the deposition of surfactant and/or polymer on the reservoir matrix. The process may best be carried out by injecting the oxidized lignosulfonates into the formation through the injection well mixed with either a polymer, a surfactant solution and/or a micellar dispersion. This mixture would then be followed by a drive fluid such as water to push the chemicals to the production well.