Engineering expertise ups San Ardo efficiency
Shows how Texaco's steam flood in San Ardo (California) field's Aurignac reservoir promises high recovery at reasonable cost due to application of advanced technology, engineering know-how, and an awareness of energy-saving possibilities. Some interesting aspects of the field's operation include: incineration of waste gas to provide energy recovery of 70 MMBtu/hr; handling 200,000 b/d of gross fluid, including 180,000 b/d of water; injection of 100,000 b/d of water as steam at about 66% quality; construction of a bridge over the Salinas River to carry vehicular traffic and flow lines to serve the field's expansion area; design and installation of a gas-sweetening plant to recover sulfur and reduce emissions; and tunneling under US Highway 101 to extend the flow lines crossing the new bridge. Production rates from wells in the eastern part of the field are declining as that area has been under steam flood the longest. Five steam generators rated at 50 MMBtu each, a couple of injecting wells, and some producing wells are already in place on a leveled-off hilltop. This approach to the field's development requires a number of directional wells. Texaco engineers expect the producing rate to reach 30,000 b/d in a couple of years, peaking out after a steady increase from today's 20,000 b/d.
- OSTI ID:
- 6185680
- Journal Information:
- Pet. Eng. Int.; (United States), Vol. 54:13
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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San Ardo field: case history of a successful steam flood
San Ardo--A case history of a successful steam flood
Related Subjects
STEAM INJECTION
ENGINEERING
HEAT RECOVERY
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
COST
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
ENERGY CONSERVATION
INJECTION WELLS
OIL YIELDS
PRODUCTION
STEAM GENERATORS
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION
BOILERS
DRILLING
ENERGY RECOVERY
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
RECOVERY
THERMAL RECOVERY
VAPOR GENERATORS
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WELLS
YIELDS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production