With Emulsion Patents (Class 507/937)

Cross-Reference Art Collections

With microemulsion (Class 507/938)
  • Patent number: 8939211
    Abstract: Method for increasing recovery of crude oil from a reservoir having an oil-bearing porous subterranean formation with a permeability of greater than 10 millidarcies, the formation including rock having pores with crude oil and connate water having a multivalent cation content present within the pores. The crude oil in the formation has an API gravity of less than 30°, a viscosity greater than 1 centipoise, and undissolved solids suspended therein. Injection water having undissolved solids suspended therein, a total dissolved solids content of 30,000 ppm or less and a multivalent cation content such that a ratio of the multivalent cation content of the injection water to the multivalent cation content of the connate water is less than 0.9, is injected into the formation, to produce an emulsion within the formation. The emulsion has an undissolved suspended solids content of at least 0.05% by weight of emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Lee McGuire, Euthimios Vittoratos
  • Patent number: 8778850
    Abstract: Formulation for a natural product as a replacement for the use of traditional acidic chemical stimulation methods for the emulsification, removal and release of paraffin and asphaltenes from low producing or pumped off wells and reservoirs with the use of traditional methodologies. Also a method of use of formulation for stimulating an oil well consisting of introducing into the wellbore a biodegradable, non-reactive fluid system containing a water-miscible fatty acid solvent, a solution of fatty acids, an amino alcohol, and at least one non-ionic surfactant. The fluid system may be further in the form of a nanoemulsion that is formed by combining a colloidal solution with one or more emulsifiers, an alcohol, and water. The fluid system may be used in well remediation and stimulation as well as additional, alternative applications such as the cleaning of surface and/or downhole equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Green Earth Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Andrecola
  • Patent number: 8741816
    Abstract: Of the many compositions and methods provided herein, one method includes a method comprising: contacting tar resident in a well bore with a tar stabilizing polymer comprising at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a styrene polymer, an acrylate polymer, a styrene-acrylate polymer, and any combination thereof; and allowing the tar stabilizing polymer to interact with the tar to at least partially reduce the tendency of the tar to adhere to a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Wayne Livanec, Greg Paul Perez
  • Patent number: 8716199
    Abstract: Corrosion inhibitor compounds including a corrosion inhibitor and a corrosion inhibitor intensifier composition comprising an intensifier compound that corresponds to the following formula: wherein R1 is a methyl or ethyl group, and R2 is H or an alkyl, aryl, alkyl aryl, alkylthio aryl, alkyloxy aryl, halogenated aryl, phenyl, alkyl phenyl, alkylthio phenyl, alkyloxyphenyl, or a halogenated phenyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Juanita M. Cassidy, Jim L. Lane, Chad E. Kiser
  • Patent number: 8592351
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatuses for generating an emulsion with enhanced stability. The methods include forming a stressed emulsion fluid using a high-shear mixer and stressing the emulsion by microporous flow, aging, heating, or another process, and reshearing the stressed emulsion fluid. The process may be repeated for enhanced stability. In some embodiments the generated emulsion may be used in hydrocarbon recovery operations. Optionally, the emulsion may include surfactants or solid microparticles for additional stability enhancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventor: Robert D. Kaminsky
  • Patent number: 8408299
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of generating a basic water-in-oil emulsion for use in recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The emulsion may be used to displace hydrocarbons from the formation. The emulsions used are ‘basic’ in the sense that they do not have added surfactants and are not solid-stabilized. The emulsions are made using a hydrocarbon having at least one of the following properties: (i) greater than five weight percent (wt %) asphaltene content, (ii) greater than two wt % sulfur content, and (iii) less than 22 dyne/cm interfacial tension between the hydrocarbon liquid and the aqueous liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Kaminsky, Ramesh Varadaraj
  • Patent number: 8242059
    Abstract: Oil-based wellbore fluid in the form of an emulsion having a continuous phase containing an oil and, dispersed therein, a first dispersed liquid phase and a second separate dispersed liquid phase. The first dispersed liquid phase is a brine phase containing at least 5% by weight of a dissolved salt or a mixture of salts, and the second dispersed liquid phase is a polar organic liquid which is insoluble or sparingly soluble in the brine and contains the first dispersed liquid phase, but is soluble in pure water. The second dispersed liquid phase is in the form of droplets having an average diameter of not less than 5 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Alan Sawdon
  • Patent number: 8076272
    Abstract: A process for preparing an alkylaryl sulfonate comprising (a) reacting at least one meta-xylene compound with olefin or a mixture of olefins having from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms, in the presence of an acid catalyst, wherein the resulting product comprises no more than 40 weight percent of 1-alkyl-2,4 dimethylsubstituted aromatic compound and at least about 60 weight percent of 1-alkyl-3,5 dimethyl substituted aromatic compound; (b) sulfonating the product of (a); and (c) neutralizing the product of (b) with a source of alkali or alkaline earth metal or ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Chevron Oronite Company LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Howes, Curtis Bay Campbell, Sophany Thach
  • Patent number: 7960316
    Abstract: At least in aspect, the invention provides methods that include a method comprising: contacting a metal surface with an acidic fluid comprising an aqueous base-fluid, an acid, a corrosion inhibitor, and a corrosion inhibitor intensifier composition comprising an intensifier compound that corresponds to the following formula: wherein R1 is a methyl or ethyl group, and R2 is H or an alkyl, aryl, alkyl aryl, alkylthio aryl, alkyloxy aryl, halogenated aryl, phenyl, alkyl phenyl, alkylthio phenyl, alkyloxyphenyl, or a halogenated phenyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Juanita M. Cassidy, Jim L. Lane, Chad E. Kiser
  • Patent number: 7902128
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided that include a water-in-oil composition comprising an oil-based continuous phase and a discontinuous phase that comprises at least a plurality of hydrogel droplets and a method comprising providing a water-in-oil emulsion comprising an oil-based continuous phase and a discontinuous phase that comprises at least a plurality of hydrogel droplets; and placing the water-in-oil emulsion in a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation. Additional methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Inc.
    Inventors: Ying Zhang, Gregory P. Perez
  • Patent number: 6818599
    Abstract: A method for in situ forming of an unstable oil in water emulsion includes the steps of providing a mixture of an aqueous alkali salt solution and a surfactant, and pumping the mixture down a well containing a crude hydrocarbon having an API gravity of less than or equal to 26 so as to provide an unstable emulsion in the well, the unstable emulsion having the hydrocarbon as a dispersed phase and the solution as a continuous phase and having a ratio by weight of the hydrocarbon to the solution of at least about 50:50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Intevep, S. A.
    Inventors: Raul Possamai Gonzalez, Jose Gregorio Navarro
  • Patent number: 6364020
    Abstract: An emulsion with flow-initiated gelling properties is described, comprising at least two discontinuous phases with a polymer and cross-linking agent separated by two phase boundaries. The novel emulsion is preferably used for remedial operations in a subterranean formation or wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: John Peter Crawshaw, Oscar Cornelius Johanna Nijs
  • Patent number: 6225261
    Abstract: A composition and method for acidizing a formation in the presence of ferric ion, free sulfur and/or sulfides is disclosed. The composition employs a ferric ion reducing agent and a sulfide reactant separately or in combination. The ferric ion reducing agent is a thioalkyl acid. The sulfide reactant compounds include &agr;-diketones and saturated and &agr;-unsaturated cyclic ketones. In another aspect, the reducing activity of the thioalkyl acid is accelerated by the presence of a catalytic quantity of a compound or mixture of compounds which yield in acid solution cuprous ion, cupric ion or combinations thereof with iodide ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael M. Brezinski, Tommy R. Gardner, Karen L. King, James L. Lane, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6156805
    Abstract: A method of stabilizing a water-in-oil emulsion, comprising the steps of:a) preparing a composition comprising oil, water, and a silane having bonds that hydrolyse and condense to form a cross-linked polymer, thereby creating a dispsersed aqueous phase in a continuous oil phase;b) allowing the silane to hydrolyse;c) allowing the hydrolysed silane to condense to form a crosslinked polymer at an interface between the oil and the aqueous phase, thereby encapsulating the dispersed aqueous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Philip S. Smith, Julie A. Hibbert
  • Patent number: 6022834
    Abstract: An improved concentrated surfactant formulation and process for the recovery of residual oil from subterranean petroleum reservoirs, and more particularly an improved alkali surfactant flooding process which results in ultra-low interfacial tensions between the injected material and the residual oil, wherein the concentrated surfactant formulation is supplied at a concentration above, at, or, below its CMC, also providing in situ formation of surface active material formed from the reaction of naturally occurring organic acidic components with the injected alkali material which serves to increase the efficiency of oil recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Oil Chem Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver YeSung Hsu, Nelson SungNan Hsu
  • Patent number: 5977189
    Abstract: Disclosed are stable monophasic liquid compositions comprising water, one or more cationic, anionic, amphoteric and/or nonionic surfactants, exhibiting partial solubility in water or in concentrated formulations, and one or more coupling agents which are C.sub.7 -C.sub.12 alkane substituted with two hydroxyl groups or alkoxylates thereof with up to 20 moles of one or more of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Witco Corporation
    Inventor: Robert O. Keys
  • Patent number: 5927404
    Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a method for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation by injecting an emulsion, comprising oil and water, into the formation. More specifically, the emulsion is stabilized using undissolved solid particles, which are preferably at least partially oleophilic. The solids-stabilized emulsion may be used either as a drive fluid for displacing hydrocarbons from the formation or to produce a barrier for diverting flow of fluids in the formation. Such solid particles may be either formation solid particles (i.e., indigenous to the formation) or nonformation solid particles (i.e., obtained from outside the formation). Nonformation solid particles may either be naturally occurring or synthetic. Some preferred solids include clays, quartz, feldspar, gypsum, coal dust, asphaltenes, and polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Production Research Company
    Inventor: James R. Bragg
  • Patent number: 5863301
    Abstract: A heavy hydrocarbon, oil-in-water emulsion that has a relatively low viscosity for improved transport is disclosed. The emulsion is produced by combining the heavy hydrocarbon with an aqueous solution of emulsifier with agitation. The emulsifier has an HLB value of about 13 to about 16. The emulsifier can be anionic, nonionic, amphoteric, or a mixture thereof. Stirring is effected at medium shear values of about 0.1 sec.sup.-1 to about 20 sec.sup.-1 and at a mixer speed of 50 to 2000 rpm. The mixer imparts sufficient power and shear to the emulsion so that a mean oil droplet size of about 30 .mu.m is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Empresa Colombiana de Petroleos ("ECOPETROL")
    Inventors: Jorge Luis Grosso, Martha Josefina Parra, Omar Caceres, Edelmira Afanador, Humberto Vidales, Fabio Enrique Hernandez, Rigoberto Barrero, Miguel Ruiz
  • Patent number: 5855243
    Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a method for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation by injecting an emulsion, comprising oil and water, into the formation. More specifically, the emulsion is stabilized using undissolved solid particles, which are preferably at least partially oleophilic. The solids-stabilized emulsion may be used either as a drive fluid for displacing hydrocarbons from the formation or to produce a barrier for diverting flow of fluids in the formation. Such solid particles may be either formation solid particles (i.e., indigenous to the formation) or nonformation solid particles (i.e., obtained from outside the formation). Nonformation solid particles may either be naturally occurring or synthetic. Some preferred solids include clays, quartz, feldspar, gypsum, coal dust, asphaltenes, and polymers. Carbon dioxide or another gas may be added to the emulsion to adjust the emulsion's viscosity to the desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Production Research Company
    Inventor: James R. Bragg
  • Patent number: 5633220
    Abstract: A high internal phase ratio water-in-oil emulsion containing an emulsifier comprising a block or graft copolymer the general formula (A-COO).sub.mB or a reaction product of a polyalk(en)yl succinic anhydride and a polar compound having at least one hydroxyl or amino group demonstrates surprisingly low pumping friction pressure losses, high temperature stability and excellent proppant carrying capacity for use as a fracturing fluid in the hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kay E. Cawiezel, Richard Hodge
  • Patent number: 5445179
    Abstract: Process for recovering and causing highly viscous petroleum products to flow by means of an aqueous dispersion of the petroleum product, in which the dispersant is selected from alkali metal or ammonium salts of organic sulfonates having the following properties: (A) sulfur content of at least 10%; (B) water solubility at 20.degree. C. of at least 15% by weight; (C) decrease in water surface tension, at a concentration of 1% by weight, not higher than 10%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignees: Eniricerche S.p.A., AGIP S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alberto Di Lullo, Armando Marcotullio, Enrico Borgarello
  • Patent number: 5427699
    Abstract: The present invention provides low viscosity acid-in-oil emulsions, surfactant systems and methods of using the emulsions and surfactants for stimulating the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean producing formations. The low viscosity acid-in-oil emulsions are basically comprised of a hydrocarbon oil forming the external phase of the emulsion, an emulsifying agent of a type which forms and stabilizes an acid-in-oil emulsion, an emulsion viscosity reducing agent comprising a fatty ammonium salt of a fatty acid and an aqueous acid solution forming the internal phase of the emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Richard W. Pauls, William G. F. Ford, Keith H. Hollenbeak
  • Patent number: 5401425
    Abstract: A method for recovering surfactants from produced fluids by mixing with produced fluids about 0.1% to about 5% of a nonionic surfactant having a phase inversion temperature above the temperature of the produced fluids, heating the mixture above the phase inversion temperature, mixing the phase containing oil and the surfactants with water, and cooling the mixture below the phase inversion temperature to extract the surfactants into an aqueous phase, provided that if a sufficient concentration of the nonionic surfactant is already in the produced fluids, it need not be added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel Prukop