Downhole emulsification for improving viscous crude production

Conference · Wed Oct 02 04:00:00 EDT 1968 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5564354

Simon, R; Poynter, W G

The downhole emulsification process has been developed to improve productivity and operating efficiency of oil wells that produce viscous crudes. The process involves using surface-active chemicals in the well bore to convert high viscosity oil or water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions to low viscosity oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. Improved pump efficiency, faster rod drop rate, and lower flow-line pressure drop result. Benefits obtainable from downhole emulsification have been demonstrated in a series of field tests. The principal test, of 6 mo. duration, involved 3 wells and showed that surfactant injection increased oil production 34% for a surfactant cost of 12 cents/bbl of incremental oil produced.

• Research Organization: Chevron Research Co.
• OSTI ID: 5564354
• Report Number(s): CONF-680926-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE2174
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ADDITIVES
COLLOIDS
COST
DISPERSIONS
EMULSIFICATION
EMULSIFIERS
EMULSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FIELD TESTS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MIXTURES
OIL WELLS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PUMPING
RECOVERY
STIMULATION
SURFACTANTS
TESTING
VISCOSITY
WATER
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS