A field experiment of improved steamdrive with in-situ foaming

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Production Engineering; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/12784-PA· OSTI ID:5747882

Brigham, W E; Castanier, L M ^[1]; Marcou, J A ^[2]; Sanyal, S K ^[3]

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1. Stanford Univ., CA (USA)
2. Arco Alaska (US)
3. SOHIO Petroleum Co. Cleveland, OH (USA)

This paper reports on the design and execution of a field experiment on recovery of heavy oils by steamdrive enhanced by additives. The goal of this project was to study the effect of injection of a commercial surfactant (Suntech IV/sup TM/) and N/sub 2/ on the behavior of a conventional steamdrive. Because the laboratory studies leading to the design and implementation of this field experiment have been referenced many times, we emphasize here the field data obtained in reservoir definition, monitoring of the experiment's progress, and production evaluation in a heavy-oil reservoir. Several standard and experimental analytical methods were applied, and their validity in the Kern River field test is discussed. Three slugs of surfactant and N/sub 2/ were injected at different rates. Analysis of the results shows a considerable improvement in oil recovery by steamdrive caused by the addition of surfactant and N/sub 2/ to the steam. The changes in production behavior of the reservoir caused by the additives are analyzed and discussed. Although the economics of this project is difficult to determine at this point, it looks promising.

• OSTI ID: 5747882
• Journal Information: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Production Engineering; (USA), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Production Engineering; (USA) Vol. 4:3; ISSN SPENE; ISSN 0885-9221
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
023000 -- Petroleum-- Properties & Composition
ADDITIVES
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
DECOMPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FIELD TESTS
FLUID INJECTION
FOAMS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
INJECTION WELLS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OIL WELLS
PERFORMANCE
PETROLEUM
PROCESSING
PRODUCTIVITY
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ROCK
RETORTING
STEAM INJECTION
SURFACTANTS
TESTING
VISCOSITY
WELLS