Shell de Venezuela steams multiple pays

Journal Article · Mon Sep 16 04:00:00 EDT 1974 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6558601

Franco, A

Selective completions to steam as many as 3 different pays are finding widespread use in Venezuela. Developer of the unusual and successful technique is Cia. Shell de Venezuela, whose steam-recovery operations in the Lake Maracaibo area are among the largest in the world. A pioneer in huff-and-puff steaming, Cia. Shell has had as many as 24 active steam-recovery projects around the Lake Maracaibo area. Even though Cia. Shell still uses conventional completions for many of its injection wells, the presence of several producing intervals with varying pressures, oil viscositites, and formation permeabilities in the same well quite often poses a serious problem. Four variations have been developed for selective steam injection: (1) two packers; (2) one packer plus a friction mandrel; (3) one packer, a friction mandrel, and a circulation sleeve; and (4) one packer with 2 mandrels and 2 circulation sleeves placed in between. Each has proved effective under specific situations. These downhole assemblies are illustrated.

• OSTI ID: 6558601
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 72:37; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
FLUID INJECTION PROCESSES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HEAT TRANSFER
INSTALLATION
LATIN AMERICA
OIL WELLS
PACKINGS
PERMEABILITY
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ROCK
SOUTH AMERICA
STEAM INJECTION
STEAM SOAK PROCESSES
THERMAL INSULATION
THERMAL RECOVERY
VENEZUELA
VISCOSITY
WELL COMPLETION
WELLS