A dynamic programming model of the cyclic steam injection process in the secondary recovery of heavy, viscous crudes

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1968

OSTI ID:5088426

Bentsen, R G

A review of previous work on the huff-and-puff process reveals the need for a more effective approach to the problem of determining the best way of carrying out a steam soak project. In particular, a method is needed whereby the practicing engineer can decide when a given well should be restimulated, how much steam should be injected, and how long the well should be allowed to soak before being put back on production. Because the cyclic steam injection process is, in effect, a multistage decision process, the methodology of dynamic programing may be applied to predict an optimum operating policy for a specific application of this process. The object of this study was to develop a dynamic programing model for the cyclic steam injection process which could be used to detail a maximum-profit operating policy. The developed model is analogous to the catalyst replacement problem. The main variables considered in the study were: (1) amount of steam injected; (2) length of soak period; and (3) time between successive stimulations. A secondary, but necessary, aspect of the study consisted in the development of an oil production response model to predict both the transient and steady- state phases of observed production histories.

• OSTI ID: 5088426
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
MANAGEMENT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OIL WELLS
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
STEAM INJECTION
STIMULATION
THERMAL RECOVERY
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS