The steam-foam process

Journal Article · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · J. Pet. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/19505-PA· OSTI ID:5929199

Hirasaki, G J

The steam-foam process was developed to improve the sweep efficiency of the steamdrive and steam-soak processes. Steamdrives that are not stabilized by gravity can have a poor vertical sweep efficiency as a result of (1) gravity overlay in a thick sand with vertical communication and/or (2) channeling in a layered formation with poor vertical communication between sand members. The reduced mobility of steam foam increases the pressure gradient in the steam-swept region to displace the heated oil better and to divert steam to the unheated interval. Surfactants reduce the steam mobility by stabilizing the liquid lamellae that cause some or all of the steam to exist as a discontinuous phase. The propagation of surfactant is retarded by adsorption. In the case of ion exchange of divalent ions from the clays, the surfactant is also retarded by precipitation and/or partitioning into the oil. The rate of propagation of foam is also determined by the mechanisms that generate and destroy foam. The generation mechanisms include leave-behind, snap-off, and division. The destruction mechanisms include condensation and evaporation, coalescence by a limiting capillary pressure, and coalescence resulting from the presence of oil. The foam texture can be predicted from a population balance that includes these mechanisms.

• Research Organization: 5709000
• OSTI ID: 5929199
• Journal Information: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 41:5; ISSN JPTJA
• 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
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COLLOIDS
DIMENSIONS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FOAMS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
OIL SANDS
OIL WELLS
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
STEAM INJECTION
STIMULATION
SURFACTANTS
SWEEP EFFICIENCY
THICKNESS
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS