Solids-stabilized emulsion

United States Patent [w]

Bragg

US005910467A [ii] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:

5,910,467 Jun. 8,1999

[54] SOLIDS-STABILIZED EMULSION

[75] Inventor: James R. Bragg, Houston, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Exxon Production Research Company, Houston, Tex.

5,360,558 H/1994 Pakulski et al 507/202

5,424,285 6/1995 Stacy et al 507/202

5,490,940 2/1996 Bragg et al 210/671

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

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0 130 632 A2 1/1985 European Pat. Off C08F 2/32

2057914 CI 4/1996 Russian Federation E21B 43/22

1682539 Al 11/1989 U.S.S.R E21B 43/22

1796013 A3 2/1993 U.S.S.R E21B 43/40

[21] Appl. No.: 09/158,162 [22] Filed: Sep. 22, 1998

Related U.S. Application Data

[60] Division of application No. 09/062,167, Apr. 17, 1998, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 08/885, 507, Jun. 30, 1997

[60] Provisional application No. 60/047,620, May 23, 1997.

[51] Int. CI.6 C09K 3/00; C09K 7/00

[52] U.S. CI 507/202; 507/102; 507/906;

507/925

[58] Field of Search 507/102, 202,

507/906, 925; 175/69; 166/279, 305.1,

309

[56] References Cited

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(List continued on next page.)

Primary Examiner—Philip Tucker

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Kurt D. VanTassel; Keith A. Bell [57] ABSTRACT

The disclosed invention is a solids-stabilized emulsion and method for making same for use in recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. More specifically, the emulsion comprises oil and water and is stabilized using undissolved solid particles, which are prelerably at least partially oleophilic. Carbon dioxide or another gas is added to the emulsion to adjust the emulsion's viscosity to the desired level. 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.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

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