Additives for improving hydrocarbon recovery

摘要

A hydrocarbon from a subterranean formation can be recovered by contacting the hydrocarbon with water or steam and one or more additives. The hydrocarbon can be selected from heavy or light crude oil, bitumen, an oil sand ore, a tar sand ore, and combinations thereof. The additive can be, for example, an aromatic hydrocarbon. The water or steam and the additive can be injected into the subterranean formation. Compositions or mixtures include hydrocarbons, water or steam, and additives.

主权项

1. A process for recovering a hydrocarbon from a subterranean formation comprising the steps of: (i) contacting a hydrocarbon from a subterranean formation with steam or water; (ii) contacting the hydrocarbon from the subterranean formation with one or more aromatic hydrocarbons, wherein the hydrocarbon from the subterranean formation is contacted with the steam or water and the one or more aromatic hydrocarbons inside of the subterranean formation, wherein the one or more aromatic hydrocarbons have atmospheric boiling points of less than or equal to about 300° C. and/or the one or more aromatic hydrocarbons comprise a functional group selected from: an alcohol, ether, aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid, ester, and combinations thereof, and wherein the one or more aromatic hydrocarbons are added at a concentration from about 250 to about 50,000 ppm by weight of the aromatic hydrocarbon in the steam; and (iii) recovering the hydrocarbon from the subterranean formation.