Organic Acid

UW ID: 18-043

 

Description of Technology

          The average recovery amount from a typical oil field is approximately 40%. Such poor recovery efficiency results in lots of oil left behind that has already been identified and has infrastructure set up for production. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is the process of pumping a substance into an underground oil deposit to displace the oil, making it easier to pump out of the deposit. EOR techniques traditionally use water to increase oil recovery by 10-30%.

          Researchers at the University of Wyoming have been exploring ways to increase the percentage of oil recovery over traditional EOR approaches. They found that two chemicals, cyclopentane carboxylic acid and 3-cyclohexane propionic acid, can aid in EOR. These organic acids can be directly dissolved into injection water for flooding and do not need to be used in high concentrations, which can save money. With these two chemicals aiding in EOR, the incremental recovery factor over traditional water flooding is expected to be 5% or higher.

Applications

          This technology can aid in enhanced oil recovery. Increasing the amount of oil recovered from a deposit not only saves money but reduces the number of drilled deposits.

Features & Benefits

• The acids can be dissolved directly into injection water

• Can be used in low concentrations

• Potential increase of oil recovery by up to 5%

Downloadable PDF: 18-043

Inventors: 

Vladimir Alvarado

Teresa Reilly

Kelly Meyers

 

Patent Status:  

 Patent Pending

 

Contact Us: 

University of Wyoming Technology Transfer and Research Products Center 

Dept. 3672

1000 E. University Ave. 

Laramie, WY 

82071 

Phone: 307-766-2520

Fax: 307-766-2530

Email: WyomingInvents@uwyo.edu