The application of in-situ steam foams to improve recovery in mature steam drives

Conference · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5499863

Eson, R L; O'Nesky, S K

Gravity segregation (steam override) and poor areal and vertical sweep efficiencies have limited recoveries in many heavy oil reservoirs since the first thermal projects were initiated in the 1960's. In many instances the injected steam prematurely breaks through into producing wells creating steam channels. In-situ steam foams have proven effective at reducing the mobility in these steam channels and diverting the injected steam into alternate flow paths, thus improving the sweep efficiency of the steam drive process. This paper describes the efforts associated with the performance under two Department of Energy (DOE) cost-sharing contracts to reduce steam channeling in a conventional steam drive using in-situ steam foam additives. Three steam injection patterns, each being treated with a different steam foam additive, are presented. In each of the cases, the steam foam additive altered the sweep efficiency and incremental oil production was noted. The cost to produce an incremental bbl of oil varied from $1.50 to $48.81.

• Research Organization: Chemical Oil Recovery Co.
• OSTI ID: 5499863
• Report Number(s): CONF-830312-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE 11704
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ADDITIVES
COLLOIDS
COST
DISPERSIONS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOAMS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASES
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
PRODUCTION
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ROCK
STEAM INJECTION
STIMULATION
THERMAL RECOVERY
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS