Composition containing an alkylxylensulfonate and a glycol and its use for enhanced oil recovery

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising a) an alkylated xylenesulphonic acid salt and b) a glycol having a molecular weight of between 200 and 1500. This composition may be used for enhanced oil recovery from a subterranean oil-containing reservoir.

Description: Alkylxylene sulphonates are known products for use in enhanced oil recovery. The products have been designed for use as the primary surfactant in micellar-polymer flooding processes. Suitable formulations have been developed for chat purpose (see e.g. European Patent Specifications 111354 and 148517). The formulations generally comprise a cosurfactant and a solvent. Alkylxylene sulphonates are known under the trade mark "ENORDET". There have now been found formulations comprising alkylxylene sulphonates which are much more versatile and do not need to be used together with a solvent. The invention relates to a composition containing a) from 36 to 70% by weight of an alkylated xylene sulphonic acid salt and b) from 5 to 40% by weight of a glycol having a molecular weight of between 200 and 1500; the balance being water and inactive material. Polyethylene glycol is used in enhanced oil recovery as a sacrificial agent (see U.S. patent specifications 4,589,489; 4,005,749 and 4,452,308). Preferred compositions are those wherein an alkylated xylene sulphonic acid salt is used as ortho-xylene sulphonic acid salt with the formula wherein M is an alkali metal or ammonium and A is a C₈-C₃₀ alkyl group, preferably a C₁₀-C₁₈ alkyl group. The alkyl group may be bound to he aromatic ring from its 2-position to its mid-position. In a preferred composition under b) is used a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight between 200 and 1500. In a more preferred composition the amount of sulphonic acid salt ranges from 56 to 65% by weight, the amount of polyethylene glycol ranges from 15 to 23% by weight; the balance being water and inactive material. The polyethylene glycol preferably has an average molecular weight of 1000. In another more preferred composition the amount of sulphonic acid salt ranges from 36 to 70% by weight and the amount of ethylene glycol ranges from 5 to 40% by weight; the balance being water and inactive material. The polyethylene glycol preferably has an average molecular weight of 400. The invention further relates to a method for enhancing recovery of oil from a subterranean oil-containing reservoir, which method comprises injecting into the reservoir an aqueous solution or dispersion of a composition as described above, displacing said aqueous solution or dispersion within said subterranean reservoir, and recovering oil from the reservoir. The compositions according to the invention are easily handleable and contain a high concentration of active matter, which compositions further do not need to be used in combination with solvents, like isopropylalcohol, glycolethers and hydrocarbons. The preferred compositions are homogeneous and stable liquids. The compositions may be prepared by mixing the alkylated xylene sulphonic acid with polyethylene glycol and caustic. A typical procedure is, for example, mixing the alkylated xylene sulphonic acid with polyethylene glycol, the required amount of water being added, followed by the gradual addition of highly concentrated sodium hydroxide solution in water. In figures 1 and 2 are represented compositions comprising the sodium salt of C₁₃-C₁₄-alkyl-o-xylene sulphonic acid, polyethylene glycol and water. In figures 1 and 2 are given compositions with polyethylene glycol with average molecular weight of 1000 and 400 respectively. The hatched areas in the figures represent the compositions which are of most interest and which form homogeneous, easily flowing liquid systems.

Claims: A composition containing a) from 36 to 70% by weight of an alkylated xylenesulphonic acid salt and b) from 5 to 40% by weight of a glycol having a molecular weight of between 200 and 1500; the balance being water and inactive material. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein under a) is used an ortho-xylene sulphonic acid salt with the formula wherein M is an alkali metal or ammonium and A is a C₈-C₃₀ alkyl group. A composition as claimed in claim 2, wherein the alkyl group is a C₁₀-C₁₈ alkyl group. A composition as claimed in any one of the claims 1-3, wherein under b) is used a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight between 200 and 1500. A composition as claimed in any one of the claims 1-4, wherein the amount of sulphonic acid salt ranges from 56 to 65% by weight, the amount of polyethylene glycol ranges from 15 to 23% by weight; the balance being water and inactive material. A composition as claimed in claim 5, wherein the polyethylene glycol has an average molecular weight of 1000. A composition as claimed in claim 4, wherein the polyethylene glycol has an average molecular weight of 400. A method for enhancing recovery of oil from a subterranean oil-containing reservoir, which method comprises injecting into the reservoir an aqueous solution or dispersion of a composition as claimed in any one of the claims 1-7, displacing said aqueous solution or dispersion within said subterranean reservoir, and recovering oil from the reservoir.

Inventors: MUIJS HERMAN MATHIEU, VAN SCHAIK JAN, MUIJS, HERMAN MATHIEU, VAN SCHAIK, JAN
Applicants: SHELL INT RESEARCH, SHELL INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ B.V.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: E21B43
IPC codes: C09K8