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Title: Calculation of the effect of steam stimulation on the performance of high productivity gas-lifted and flowing heavy-oil wells

Conference · · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6137620

Oil production rate is increased by steam stimulation of a flowing or gas-lifted well in 2 ways: (1) reduction of the near-well bore flow resistance in the reservoir by decreased oil viscosity and by well-bore cleanup, and (2) reduction of tubing and flowline pressure drop by decreased oil viscosity. The first effect increases the productivity index of the well. The second effect reduces the producing bottom-hole pressure and thereby increases the pressure drawdown. Previously published techniques for solving the reservoir and well-bore calculations separately have been combined. An iteration procedure presented in this study provides a reasonably stable method for arriving at a simultaneous solution for the well bore and formation fluid flow and heat transfer problems. An excellent match of field data for a Lake Maracaibo well demonstrates the accuracy of the calculation method. The effects of steam treatment size, wellhead tubing pressure, lift-gas injection rate, and prestimulation production rate on stimulated performance are calculated for gas-lifted well to demonstrate the utility of the method.

OSTI ID:
6137620
Report Number(s):
CONF-7210140-
Journal Information:
Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Vol. SPE-4035; Conference: 47. meeting of the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, San Antonio, TX, USA, 8 Oct 1972
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English