Light co-solvent compositions

Abstract

Provided herein are inter alia non-surfactant aqueous compositions and methods having application in the field of enhanced oil recovery. In particular, non-surfactant compositions including light co-solvents and an alkali agent presented herein can be used, inter alia, for the recovery of a large range of crude oil compositions from challenging reservoirs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-surfactant aqueous composition comprising a light co-solvent, a water-soluble polymer and an alkali agent. 
     
     
         2 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of different light co-solvents. 
     
     
         3 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the light co-solvent has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein
 R 1A  is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6  alkylene, unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene; 
 R 2A  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
 R 3A  is independently hydrogen or 
 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           R 4A  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
           n is an integer from 0 to 30, and 
           m is an integer from 0 to 30. 
         
       
     
     
         4 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the light co-solvent has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein
 R 1B  is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6  alkylene, unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene; 
 R 2B  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
 R 3B  is independently hydrogen or methyl; 
 q is an integer from 0 to 30; 
 r is 1 or 2; 
 R 4B  is independently hydrogen or 
 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           R 5B  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
           R 6B  is independently hydrogen or methyl; 
           s is an integer from 0 to 30, and 
           t is 1 or 2. 
         
       
     
     
         5 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of  claim 3 , wherein R 1A  is linear unsubstituted C 4  alkylene and n is 5. 
     
     
         6 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of  claim 5 , wherein m is 5. 
     
     
         7 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of  claim 3 , wherein R 1A  is branched unsubstituted C 4  alkylene and n is 1. 
     
     
         8 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of  claim 7 , wherein m is 1. 
     
     
         9 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of  claim 3 , wherein n and m are independently 0. 
     
     
         10 . The non-surfactant aqueous composition of  claim 9 , wherein R 1A  is linear or branched unsubstituted C 4  alkylene. 
     
     
         11 . An emulsion composition comprising an unrefined petroleum phase and a non-surfactant aqueous phase, wherein said non-surfactant aqueous phase comprises a light co-solvent and alkali agent. 
     
     
         12 . The emulsion composition of  claim 11 , wherein the emulsion composition is a microemulsion. 
     
     
         13 . The emulsion composition of  claim 11 , wherein said light co-solvent has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein
 R 1A  is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6  alkylene, unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene; 
 R 2A  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
 R 3A  is independently hydrogen of 
 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           R 4A  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
           n is an integer from 0 to 30, and 
           m is an integer from 0 to 30. 
         
       
     
     
         14 . The emulsion composition of  claim 11 , wherein said light co-solvent has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein
 R 1B  is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6  alkylene, unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene; 
 R 2B  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
 R 3B  is independently hydrogen or methyl; 
 q is an integer from 0 to 30; 
 r is 1 or 2; 
 R 4B  is independently hydrogen or 
 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           R 5B  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
           R 6B  is independently hydrogen or methyl; 
           s is an integer from 0 to 30, and 
           t is 1 or 2. 
         
       
     
     
         15 . A method of displacing an unrefined active petroleum material in contact with a solid material, said method comprising:
 (i) contacting an unrefined active petroleum material with a non-surfactant aqueous composition, wherein said unrefined active petroleum material is in contact with a solid material;   (ii) allowing said unrefined active petroleum material to separate from said solid material thereby displacing said unrefined active petroleum material in contact with said solid material.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said light co-solvent has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein
 R 1A  is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6  alkylene, unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene; 
 R 2A  is is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
 R 3A  is independently hydrogen or 
 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           R 4A  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
           n is an integer from 0 to 30, and 
           m is an integer from 0 to 30. 
         
       
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said light co-solvent has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein
 R 1B  is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6  alkylene, unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene; 
 R 2B  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
 R 3B  is independently hydrogen or methyl; 
 q is an integer from 0 to 30; 
 r is 1 or 2; 
 R 4B  is independently hydrogen or 
 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           R 5B  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
           R 6B  is independently hydrogen or methyl; 
           s is an integer from 0 to 30, and 
           t is 1 or 2. 
         
       
     
     
         18 . A method of converting an unrefined active petroleum acid into a surfactant, said method comprising:
 (i) contacting an unrefined active petroleum material with the non-surfactant aqueous composition, thereby forming an emulsion in contact with said unrefined active petroleum material; and   (ii) allowing an unrefined active petroleum acid within said unrefined active petroleum material to enter said emulsion, thereby converting said unrefined active petroleum acid into a surfactant.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said light co-solvent has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein
 R 1A  is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6  alkylene unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene; 
 R 2A  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
 R 3A  is independently hydrogen or 
 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           R 4A  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
           n is an integer from 0 to 30, and 
           m is an integer from 0 to 30. 
         
       
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said light co-solvent has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein
 R 1B  is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6  alkylene, unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene; 
 R 2B  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
 R 3B  is independently hydrogen or methyl; 
 q is an integer from 0 to 30; 
 r is 1 or 2; 
 R 4B  is independently hydrogen or 
 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           R 5B  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
           R 6B  is independently hydrogen or methyl; 
           s is an integer from 0 to 30, and 
           t is 1 or 2.