Steam stimulation: an evaluation

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1967 · Prod. Mon.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6437309

Farouq Ali, S M

The steam-stimulation process is evaluated by considering the increase in production rate and the effect of steam stimulation on ultimate recovery. A simplified equation is shown for calculating the ratio of production rates for the steam-stimulated reservoir and an unstimulated reservoir. The primary simplification in this equation results from the assumption that the heat in the stimulated reservoir will be constant throughout the production interval. In practice, the heated zone will deteriorate with time, and references are made to a number of authors who have studied this consideration. A discussion of the basic mechanisms of cyclic steam injection reveals that the shut-in period following steam injection is desirable, but it should not be long enough to cause depletion of the pressure energy of the injected steam. Generally, a careful record of the wellhead pressure during the shut-in period would indicate the best time to put the well on production. In most steam-stimulation projects, a large quantity of the injected steam is left in the reservoir and can make subsequent application of a displacement type oil recovery process difficult and inefficient since the sweep efficiency would be adversely affected. (10 refs.)

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ
• OSTI ID: 6437309
• Journal Information: Prod. Mon.; (United States), Journal Name: Prod. Mon.; (United States) Vol. 31:10; ISSN PROMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EVALUATION
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HEAT TRANSFER
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
STEAM INJECTION
STIMULATION
THERMAL RECOVERY
WELL PRESSURE
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS