US 12,139,665 B1
Rheological gradient-based method of recovering oil from hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean geologic formation
Madhar Sahib Azad, Dhahran (SA); Dhafer Abdullah Al Shehri, Dhahran (SA); Assad Ahmed Abdallah Barri, Dhahran (SA); and Jafar Sadiq Al Hamad, Dhahran (SA)
Assigned to KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Jan. 11, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/409,896.
Int. Cl. C09K 8/588 (2006.01); E21B 43/16 (2006.01)
CPC C09K 8/588 (2013.01) [E21B 43/168 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of recovering oil from a hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean geologic formation, the method comprising:
producing a first hydrocarbon composition from the hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean geologic formation;
injecting a first injection fluid comprising a first viscoelastic polymer and a first brine solution into the hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean geologic formation,
wherein the first viscoelastic polymer has a shear viscosity from 500 to 700 cP at a shear rate of 0.5 to 2 s−1,
producing a second hydrocarbon composition from the hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean geologic formation;
injecting a second injection fluid comprising a viscous polymer and a second brine solution into the hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean geologic formation,
wherein the viscous polymer has a shear viscosity greater than the first viscoelastic polymer,
producing a third hydrocarbon composition from the hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean geologic formation;
injecting a third injection fluid comprising a second viscoelastic polymer and a third brine solution into the hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean geologic formation,
wherein the second viscoelastic polymer has a shear viscosity less than the viscous polymer,
producing a fourth hydrocarbon composition from the hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean geologic formation.