Petroleum: steam additives and oil recovery. [California]

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Ind. Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6543840

ERDA is funding a number of research and development projects aimed at furthering the recovery rate for domestic crude oil. One of the latest is a contract awarded to the University of Southern California Department of Petroleum Engineering. The program is to examine ways for more efficient use of steam stimulation processes to improve recovery rates of heavy oil deposits in the western states. Steam techniques already have helped improve production in the region over the past 10 to 15 yr. For instance, the steam methods used today account for production of 150,000 bbl of oil daily in California alone, 15% of the state's output. In the new effort, a USC team is working on the use of detergent-like additives in steam flooding. Though the studies are in an early phase, hopes are high that they will lead in future improvements in steam stimulation recovery amounting to 50 to 60% more than present levels.

• OSTI ID: 6543840
• Journal Information: Ind. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Ind. Res.; (United States) Vol. 19:3; ISSN IDRSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ADDITIVES
CALIFORNIA
DETERGENTS
EFFICIENCY
EMULSIFIERS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FEDERAL REGION IX
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PRODUCTION
RECOVERY
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RESOURCES
STEAM INJECTION
STIMULATION
SURFACTANTS
THERMAL RECOVERY
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS
WETTING AGENTS