Drilling for thermal recovery
The Midway-Sunset oil field is located in Kern and San Luis Obispo Counties, approximately 40 miles W. of Bakersfield, Calif. Generally speaking, oil production is from relatively thick sand sections of Pliocene and Miocene age at shallow depths, although production is found to depths of 5300 ft. Oil gravities range from below 8/sup 0/ API to about 33/sup 0/ API with an average for the shallow sands of around 15/sup 0/ API. Viscosity of the oil shows an excellent reduction with increased temperature. Most operators begin thermal stimulation with several old producing wells. Adapting these wells to steam recovery usually presents no problem. Many existing wells, however, are not suited for steam injection. The worst problem to remedy in an old well is the lack of adequate cement behind the pipe. Every operator has found it necessary to drill new wells for steam injection. These wells are needed to provide an adequate drainage pattern and to give complete penetration of the sands. The drilling and completion program as practiced by McCulloch Oil Corp. of Calif., is given. A list of selected problems is described, including cement failures, lost circulation, and casing failures.
- Research Organization:
- McCulloch Oil Corp. of California
- OSTI ID:
- 6485322
- Journal Information:
- Drilling; (United States), Journal Name: Drilling; (United States) Vol. 27:10; ISSN DRILA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CALIFORNIA
COVERINGS
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
STEAM INJECTION
STIMULATION
THERMAL RECOVERY
USA
VISCOSITY
WELL DRILLING
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS
WESTERN REGION