Big Muddy Field Low-Tension Flood Demonstration Project. Third annual report, April 1980-March 1981

Technical Report · Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5862410

Davis, J G; Ferrell, H H; Stewart, W C

Objectives of the project are: evaluate a commercial-scale field test using cost-optimized chemical slug size and composition; field test a surfactant system which could be made available in commercial quantities; demonstrate oil recovery effectiveness in multiple patterns; and demonstrate the feasibility of applying a low-tension process to low-permeability sands by using propped fractures in injection and producing wells. The first annual report dealt primarily with drilling, formation evaluation, and preliminary plant design. The second annual report emphasized plant construction and completion of laboratory work to specify the chemicals needed for the project. This report discusses the project operation during the preflush and problems arising during start-up of chemical injection. The most significant operating problem during the preflush was failure of the monel filter screens due to chlorine attack. The monel screens were replaced with polyester cloth screens. The cloth screens worked very well filtering the preflush water. After a short term test in which the 200-square-foot filter showed that the cloth screens would also filter the polymer, polyester cloth screens were ordered as replacement screens for the 800-square-foot product filter. All of the construction and installation necessary for the chemical phase handling and blending were completed, individual components were checked out, and the low-tension slug injection was scheduled to begin the latter half of January. In spite of the preparation, low-tension slug injection has been delayed because of continued faulty filter operation. The exact cause of the erratic filter operation is still being evaluated.

• Research Organization: Conoco, Inc., Casper, WY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC19-78ET11364
• OSTI ID: 5862410
• Report Number(s): DOE/SF/01424-39; ON: DE82004727
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
OIL WELLS
WATERFLOODING
FIELD TESTS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FABRIC FILTERS
PETROLEUM
POLYESTERS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SURFACTANTS
WELL STIMULATION
WYOMING
ENERGY SOURCES
ESTERS
FILTERS
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
POLYMERS
RECOVERY
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
STIMULATION
TESTING
USA
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production