Method for conducting cyclic steam injection in recovery of hydrocarbons

Patent · Tue Mar 25 04:00:00 EST 1969

OSTI ID:5564796

Satter, A; Craig, Jr, F F

In the cyclic method of steam stimulation of an oil well, steam is injected for a period of from several days to several weeks, then stopped and usually after a time-- generally a few days--during which the steam is allowed to diffuse through the formation, the well is produced. There is considerable uncertainty in the art as to how long this soak period should be to secure efficient production. To short a period of soaking is wasteful, much of the injected heat is lost in the initial production of live steam. Too long a soaking period allows the temperature to drop too low to obtain any value from oil viscosity reduction. The process describes a means for a definite determination of conditions under which both maximum heat utilization and oil recovery can be obtained. (3 claims)

• Assignee: Pan American Petr. Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 3434544
• OSTI ID: 5564796
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040401 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
BITUMENS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUID INJECTION PROCESSES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROCARBONS
OIL SAND DEPOSITS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
PETROLEUM
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESERVOIR FLUIDS
RESERVOIR TEMPERATURE
STEAM INJECTION
TAR
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
THERMAL RECOVERY
TIME DEPENDENCE
VISCOSITY
WELLS