US 7,461,694 B2
Methods for recovering oil from an oil reservoir
Manilal S. Dahanayake, Princeton Junction, N.J. (US); Bruno Langlois, Paris (France); and Paul-Joel Derian, Villennes sur Seine (France)
Assigned to Rhodia Inc., Cranbury, N.J. (US)
Filed on Nov. 16, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/280,896.
Prior Publication US 2007/0107897 A1, May 17, 2007
Int. Cl. E21B 43/22 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 166—270.1  [166/275; 166/401; 166/271; 166/305.1] 11 Claims
 
1. A method for enhancing the recovery of oil from a reservoir, comprising:
a) introducing a flooding fluid into the reservoir, wherein the fluid has the following:
i) water and
ii) an amount of erucyl amidopropyl betaine sufficient to provide the flooding fluid with an oil/water interfacial surface tension of about 1 mNm or less and a viscosity of about 10 cPs or more;
b) extracting the oil through a wellbore at a location different than the point of introduction of the flooding fluid into the reservoir.