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Title: System to inject steam and produce oil from the same wellbore through downhole valve switching

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6947754· OSTI ID:6947754

A market analysis for the Downhole Valves and associated hardware in California has shown that the main effort should be concentrated on the second case studied in the First Quarter Report, namely that of re-entry into a thermal well equipped with a 7 in. casing. An improved design,based on the use of a combination of a sliding sleeve valve with two plugs (all of them operated by wireline) is the most flexible and lowest cost configuration,for entering the largest market in California,that of existing vertical wells penetrating a relatively thin ([le] 40 ft) reservoir. At present oil prices at the California refineries, these wells, operated under cyclic steam injection are barely economic. They could become much more productive with the addition of a pair of small-diameter horizontal drainholes. A low-cost work-over program with all drilling and completion operations done through the 2 7/8 in. production tubing has been designed. Laboratory tests have confirmed the operability of the modified sliding sleeve valve with steam at temperatures ranging up to 500 F. Calculations have also determined the steam quality improvements resulting from using a low-cost Silicate foam insulation on the 2 3/8 in. steam tubing, with the 7 in. casing/tubings annulus filled with low-pressure gas.

Research Organization:
S-Cal Research Corp., San Rafael, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG01-92CE15553
OSTI ID:
6947754
Report Number(s):
DOE/CE/15553-T2; ON: DE93007736
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English