Light co-solvent compositions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017145293-A1
Application number	US-201615365170-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 30, 2016
Priority date	Dec 13, 2011
Publication date	May 25, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided herein are inter alia non-surfactant aqueous compositions and methods having application in the field of enhanced oil recovery. In particular, non-surfactant compositions including light co-solvents and an alkali agent presented herein can be used, inter alia, for the recovery of a large range of crude oil compositions from challenging reservoirs.

First claim

1 . A non-surfactant aqueous composition comprising a light co-solvent, a water-soluble polymer and an alkali agent.

2 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of different light co-solvents.

3 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of claim 1 , wherein the light co-solvent has the formula:

wherein
R 1A is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6 alkylene, unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene;
R 2A is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;
R 3A is independently hydrogen or

R 4A is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;
n is an integer from 0 to 30, and
m is an integer from 0 to 30.

4 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of claim 1 , wherein the light co-solvent has the formula:

wherein
R 1B is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6 alkylene, unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene;
R 2B is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;
R 3B is independently hydrogen or methyl;
q is an integer from 0 to 30;
r is 1 or 2;
R 4B is independently hydrogen or

R 5B is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;
R 6B is independently hydrogen or methyl;
s is an integer from 0 to 30, and
t is 1 or 2.

5 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of claim 3 , wherein R 1A is linear unsubstituted C 4 alkylene and n is 5.

6 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of claim 5 , wherein m is 5.

7 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of claim 3 , wherein R 1A is branched unsubstituted C 4 alkylene and n is 1.

8 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of claim 7 , wherein m is 1.

9 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of claim 3 , wherein n and m are independently 0.

10 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of claim 9 , wherein R 1A is linear or branched unsubstituted C 4 alkylene.

11 . An emulsion composition comprising an unrefined petroleum phase and the non-surfactant aqueous composition of claim 1 .

12 . The emulsion composition of claim 11 , wherein the emulsion composition is a microemulsion.

13 . The emulsion composition of claim 11 , wherein said light co-solvent has the formula:

wherein
R 1A is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6 alkylene, unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene;
R 2A is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;
R 3A is independently hydrogen or

R 4A is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;
n is an integer from 0 to 30, and
m is an integer from 0 to 30.

14 . The emulsion composition of claim 11 , wherein said light co-solvent has the formula:

wherein
R 1B is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6 alkylene, unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene;
R 2B is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;
R 3B is independently hydrogen or methyl;
q is an integer from 0 to 30;
r is 1 or 2;
R 4B is independently hydrogen or

R 5B is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;
R 6B is independently hydrogen or methyl;
s is an integer from 0 to 30, and
t is 1 or 2.

15 . A method of displacing an unrefined active petroleum material in contact with a solid material, said method comprising:
(i) contacting an unrefined active petroleum material with the non-surfactant aqueous composition of claim 1 , wherein said unrefined active petroleum material is in contact with a solid material; (ii) allowing said unrefined active petroleum material to separate from said solid material thereby displacing said unrefined active petroleum material in contact with said solid material.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said light co-solvent has the formula:

wherein
R 1A is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6 alkylene, unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene;
R 2A is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;
R 3A is independently hydrogen or

R 4A is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;
n is an integer from 0 to 30, and
m is an integer from 0 to 30.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said light co-solvent has the formula:

wherein
R 1B is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6 alkylene, unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene;
R 2B is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;
R 3B is independently hydrogen or methyl;
q is an integer from 0 to 30;
r is 1 or 2;
R 4B is independently hydrogen or

R 5B is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;
R 6B is independently hydrogen or methyl;
s is an integer from 0 to 30, and
t is 1 or 2.

18 . A method of converting an unrefined active petroleum acid into a surfactant, said method comprising:
(i) contacting an unrefined active petroleum material with the non-surfactant aqueous composition of claim 1 , thereby forming an emulsion in contact with said unrefined active petroleum material; and (ii) allowing an unrefined active petroleum acid within said unrefined active petroleum material to enter said emulsion, thereby converting said unrefined active petroleum acid into a surfactant.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said light co-solvent has the formula:

wherein
R 1A is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6 alkylene unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene;
R 2A is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;
R 3A is independently hydrogen or

R 4A is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;
n is an integer from 0 to 30, and
m is an integer from 0 to 30.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said light co-solvent has the formula:

Assignees

• Univ Texas

Inventors

• Weerasooriya Upali P
• Pope Gary A

Classifications

• C09K8/58 Primary

  Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids · CPC title

• C09K8/584

  characterised by the use of specific surfactants · CPC title

• E21B43/16

  Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons · CPC title

• C09K8/588 Primary

  characterised by the use of specific polymers {(polymeric surfactants C09K8/584)} · CPC title

• C09K8/594

  Compositions used in combination with injected gas {, e.g. CO2 orcarbonated gas}(C09K8/592 takes precedence) · CPC title