Determining steam distribution

Patent · Tue Aug 18 00:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6165758

Moore, J S; Ghassemi, F

An enhanced oil recovery method is described comprising steps of: (a) providing a pattern of wells, including at least one injection well intersecting an underground oil bearing formation for injecting steam into an area of the formation surrounding the injection well, and including producing wells intersecting the area of the formation for producing oil and other fluids from a plurality of sectors of the area, each of the sectors being associated with one of the producing wells and defining a portion of the area to be drained by its associated producing well; (b) injecting steam into the formation through the injection well; (c) monitoring a salinity concentration of produced water from each of the producing wells to thus identify producing wells where salinity concentration is declining as a result of an inflow of fresh water which is condensed from injected steam; (d) determining an instantaneous relative steam portion, of a total flow rate of steam being injected into the area, which is flowing to each of the producing wells by determining a flow rate of fresh water required to cause a salinity concentration decline measured in step (c) for each of the producing wells.

• Assignee: Conoco, Inc., Ponca City, OK
• Patent Number(s): US 4687057
• OSTI ID: 6165758
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 14 Aug 1985
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
OIL WELLS
STEAM INJECTION
SWEEP EFFICIENCY
DRAINAGE
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLOW RATE
FRESH WATER
INJECTION WELLS
MONITORING
PETROLEUM
SALINITY
STEAM
WELL SPACING
WELL STIMULATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
STIMULATION
WATER
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production