Why a fire flood project failed

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1966 · World Oil; (United States)

OSTI ID:6569525

Campbell, G G; Burwell, E L; Sterner, T E; Core, L L

The US Bureau of Mines has completed evaluation of a pilot underground combustion project conducted in a shallow, high gravity, paraffin base, crude oil reservoir in the second Venango sand in Reno pool, Venango County, PA. Although the project failed to increase production, it provided valuable information on the applicability of combustion process to similar reservoirs containing low-viscosity oil. The well pattern for the test was an elongated 5-spot that enclosed 1.61 acres. The performance is described of the USBM combustion test, the reasons are cited for its failure, and procedures are recommended which would solve the problems encountered. In future underground combustion experiments in the Pennsylvania crude-oil producing area, ignition should be achieved using a properly sized electrical heater which would allow the use of lower air flux and thereby make possible a temperature program which would insure adequate fuel deposition. In this pilot test, there was no conclusive evidence from producing gas analyses that self-sustained combustion was achieved.

• Research Organization: US Bureau Mines
• OSTI ID: 6569525
• Journal Information: World Oil; (United States), Journal Name: World Oil; (United States) Vol. 162:2; ISSN WOOIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CENTRAL REGION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FIELD TESTS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
OXIDATION
PENNSYLVANIA
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PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RESOURCES
TESTING
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA
WELLS