Steam distillation drive--Brea Field, California

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1971 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5650790

Volek, C W; Pryor, J A

In the displacement of a volatile oil by steam, the lighter fractions of the residual oil are vaporized by steam distillation. These volatile fractions condense as they come in contact with the colder formation, forming a solvent or miscible bank ahead of the steam front. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated that very low residual oil saturations (depending upon the oil volatility) are possible with a steam-distillation drive. This process has been field tested in a steeply dipping reservoir containing 24$ API gravity oil at a depth of 4,600 ft. Results from this pilot indicate that the steam drive was very stable showing little tendency for early breakthrough to downdip production wells. Residual oil saturations of 8% and less were obtained and the average produced oil gravity was increased by the light components distilled from the oil remaining in the steam zone. A relatively low air permeability (for steam driving) of 70 md necessitated the use of 2,000 psi steam to inject 500 to 1,000 bpd water, as steam. This injection pressure combined with the 4,600-ft well depths necessitated the use of insulated tubing to attain bottom-hole steam qualities greater than 50%. Several injection well and insulated tubing designs were tested.

• Research Organization: Shell Oil Co.
• OSTI ID: 5650790
• Report Number(s): CONF-711093-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE-3441
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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