Recovery of oil by steam injection in the Smackover field, Arkansas

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1972 · SPE of AIME Mid-Continent Sect. Improved Oil Recofery Symp.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6126717

Smith, R V; Bertuzzi, A F; Clampitt, R L; Templeton, E E

The recovery of oil from the Nacatoch Formation of the Smackover field, Arkansas, by heating the reservoir with steam was considered to be economic, based on the recovery of 207,747 bbl of additional oil after the injection of 340.7 billion btu in a 22-acre pilot. Steam was injected into the center well of a 5-spot pattern. It moved through the gas cap, and heat was conducted into the underlying oil zone. The increase in temperature decreased the viscosity of the oil and accelerated the rate of recovery by gravity drainage. Also, the steam caused a pressure gradient between the injection well and the producing wells, thereby increasing the producing rate to more than that resulting from gravity drainage. The first increase in the rate of oil production was observed in Dec. 1964, 1 mo. after the start of steam injection, and the rate increased until the eighth month of injection when the average daily oil production reached 282 bpd as contrasted to the primary rate of 23 bpd. The original pilot was enlarged to 22 from the original area of 10 acres, and through Aug. 1970, the cumulative oil production from the 8 producing wells was 284,043 bbl.

• OSTI ID: 6126717
• Journal Information: SPE of AIME Mid-Continent Sect. Improved Oil Recofery Symp.; (United States), Journal Name: SPE of AIME Mid-Continent Sect. Improved Oil Recofery Symp.; (United States) Vol. SPE-3779
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ARKANSAS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RECOVERY
RESOURCES
SATURATION
SOUTHWEST REGION
STEAM INJECTION
STIMULATION
THERMAL RECOVERY
USA
WATER SATURATION
WELL SPACING
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS