Evaluation of the field demonstration of the conventional steam drive process with ancillary materials at North Kern Front

Technical Report · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5923771

Ferrell, H H; Plumb, L B; Lowry, P H

The primary goal of the operator in this field demonstration project was to evaluate the economic merits of use of ancillary materials in a conventional steam drive to improve sweep efficiencies by reducing injection into ''steam channels,'' thus forcing the steam to enter alternate flow paths. This review was based upon the information published in Department of Energy reports, with supplementary information provided by the operator. The test was conducted on two different leases consisting of three contiguous 9-spot patterns on each lease. All of the wells in the test had been cyclically steamed, and continuous steam injection had begun about a year before the test began. Steam injection continued with one of the three paterns on each lease used as a control pattern with no chemical being injected. On the second pattern, a small volume of concentrated surfactant foaming agent, COR-180 and concentrated CMC polymer was injected into the steam line every week. Data and analyses are presented in this report suggesting that the ancillary material in the steam drive at North Kern Front did not affect the project oil recovery. This was a surprising result, since other laboratory and field tests indicate ancillary materials can divert steam flow and contribute to increased oil recovery. Further study revealed the reason for lack of success: the test area was overwhelmingly influenced by influx of water and oil from outside. A critique is given of the several evaluation methods attempted in this project to aid in the interpretation of future tests. 21 refs., 50 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Keplinger Technology Consultants, Inc., Tulsa, OK (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC19-85BC10830
• OSTI ID: 5923771
• Report Number(s): DOE/BC/10830-2; ON: DE86000277
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ADDITIVES
CALIFORNIA
COLLOIDS
DATA
DATA ANALYSIS
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
EVALUATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION IX
FIELD TESTS
FLUID INJECTION
FOAMS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OIL WELLS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
POLYMERS
PRODUCTION
REAGENTS
STEAM INJECTION
TESTING
TRACER TECHNIQUES
USA
WATER
WELL LOGGING
WELLS