Operation and performance of Slocum field thermal recovery project

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1970 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5369869

Hall, A L; Bowan, R W

Shell Oil Co.'s Slocum Thermal Recovery Project is successfully recovering 19% API oil from the 500-ft deep Carrizo sand. In the 8 yr prior to initiation of steam injection, primary production recovered only 300,000 bbl of oil, or about 1% of the original oil-in-place. Three years of full-scale operation has recovered 1.4 million bbl of oil, representing 4.7% of the original oil-in-place. After pilot testing, injection was started into 7, 13-spot patterns in March 1967. To date, 13 additional patterns have been installed. The low injectivity of the oil sand precludes conventional water or steam drive processes; however, the underlying water layer provides a path for efficient heat communication and steam injection. Among the problems encountered in this thermal operation are dehydration of complex emulsions, restricted hot well production performance, production of hydrogen sulfide gas, and production of organic solids.

• Research Organization: Shell Oil Co
• OSTI ID: 5369869
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE-2843
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HEAT TRANSFER
INJECTION WELLS
MATERIALS
OIL SANDS
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
STEAM INJECTION
THERMAL RECOVERY
VISCOSITY
WELLS