Heavy oil industry in Venezuela

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Carib-Latin Energy Consultants; ()

OSTI ID:6571773

The present oil production of Venezuela is 2.3 million bpd (capacity 2.5 million bpd), and 30% of current production is heavy oil with an API gravity below 220 (average API 150). About 30% of heavy oil presently being recovered is produced by thermal recovery methods. Experience in heavy oil recovery processes is recounted, highlighting the steam-soak method. Other heavy oil recovery processes are listed as thermal (steamflood, in situ combustion, cyclic hot water, and thermal sandwich) and nonthermal (water injection, NaOH injection, condensate injection, and polymers injection). The conclusion is that utilization of combined steam-soak and steam-drive processes may result in final recovery figures on the order of 40% of stock tank oil initially in place in shallow reservoirs and up to 25% in deeper reservoirs using gas and water injection.

• OSTI ID: 6571773
• Journal Information: Carib-Latin Energy Consultants; (), Journal Name: Carib-Latin Energy Consultants; () Vol. 3:10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CAUSTIC FLOODING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
CONDENSATES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUID INJECTION PROCESSES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS CONDENSATES
GAS INJECTION
HOT-WATER PROCESSES
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
INDUSTRY
LATIN AMERICA
LIQUIDS
NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS
OIL WELLS
OXIDATION
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
POLYMERS
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
RECOVERY
SOUTH AMERICA
STEAM INJECTION
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
VENEZUELA
VISCOSITY
WATERFLOODING
WELLS