Subterranean Oil recovery

Benzoic acid is also used as a down-hole drilling mud additive where it functions as a temporary plugging agent in subterranean formations. Since this is a secondary oil recovery appHcation, this use is heavily dependent on the price of cmde oil. 

Oil recovery is usually inefficient in subterranean formations (hereafter... 

Flow displacement of oil through a sandpack or sand column is relevant to enhanced oil recovery in subterranean sources. An experimental apparatus setup shown in Fig. 5.1.4 was used to experimentally simulate the displacement of oil from an oilfield, in accordance with accepted procedure. Pressure drop between the top of the fluid on the sand column at atmospheric pressure and the partial vacuum at the bottom of the column was the driving force for fluid motion. 

Thus, multifunctional multipolymeric surfactant-thickener mixtures generated from the FRRPP process are proposed to be used in the recovery of oil from subterranean sources from waterflooding operations. The idea is to simply add the surfactant into the water in the injection well and enhanced production of oil (at least three times the rate compared to waterflooding) can be realized in the production wells. Surfactant-thickener mixtures can also be recycled and can function as demulsifiers, which add to the viability of the oil recovery operation. 

The oil industry uses microencapsulated oil-field chemicals. For example, microencapsulated breaker is deHvered into a subterranean formation where it breaks the fracturing Hquid used to stimulate the recovery of fluids such as cmde oil or natural gas. Examples of breakers encapsulated include oxidi2ers, en2ymes, and various mineral or organic acids. 

In 1997, Fina/Badger joined with Shell Technology Ventures, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company, to develop a reheating technology called Flameless Distributed Combustion (FDC) for application in EB dehydrogena-tion.f ° Flameless Distributed Combustion technology is patented by Shell Oil Company and was originally used as a heat injector for enhanced recovery of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations. 

Boston, W.G., Brandner, C.E., Eoster, W.R., 1969. Recovery of oil by waterflooding from an argillaceous, oil-containing subterranean formation. US Patent 3,740,956, 7 October. 

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