Cyclic steaming in heavy oil diatomite

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:403043

Kumar, M; Beatty, F D

Chevron currently uses cyclic steaming as a recovery method to produce economically its heavy oil diatomite resource in the Cymric field, San Joaquin Valley, California. A highly instrumented, cyclically steaming well from this field was simulated in this study to delineate important production mechanisms, to optimize operations, and to improve reservoir management. The model was constrained, as much as possible, by the available measured data. Results show that fluid flow from the well to the reservoir is primarily through the hydraulic fracture induced by the injected steam. Parameters with unique importance to modeling cyclic steaming in diatomites are: (1) induced fracture dimension (length and height), (2) matrix permeability, (3) oil/water capillary pressure, (4) grid size perpendicular to fracture face, and (5) producing bottomhole pressures. Additionally, parameters important for conventional steam injection processes, such as relative permeabilities and injected steam volume, quality, and rate, are important for diatomites also. Oil production rates and steam/oil ratios calculated by this model compare reasonably with field data.

• OSTI ID: 403043
• Report Number(s): CONF-9603154--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
CALIFORNIA
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION PROCESSES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OIL WELLS
WELL STIMULATION