US 11,873,446 B2
Injection of nonionic surfactants into wells for increased oil production
Kirk Herbert Raney, Houston, TX (US); and Grant Wesley Haddix, Katy, TX (US)
Assigned to Third Wave Production, LLC, Katy, TX (US)
Filed by Third Wave Production, LLC, Katy, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/901,492.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/249,319, filed on Sep. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0101188 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 43/34 (2006.01); C09K 8/584 (2006.01)
CPC C09K 8/584 (2013.01) 41 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of injecting surfactants into an oil well, comprising:
injecting a non-ionic surfactant solution into a reservoir formation, wherein the non-ionic surfactant solution comprises one or more non-ionic surfactants dissolved in a brine solution, wherein the surfactant solution exhibits a cloud point temperature in formation brine that is greater than but within 20 degrees Fahrenheit of the temperature of the reservoir formation; and
altering the wettability of a rock surface of a reservoir rock core sample from the reservoir formation to be water wet based on the injected surfactant solution, wherein the water-wet rock surface is indicated by a contact angle measurement at reservoir temperature of a reservoir oil droplet on the rock surface of less than 75° as measured through the non-ionic surfactant solution.