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Steam soak: will it pay

Journal Article · · Pet. Equip.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6623240
High initial oil production results after steam injection have indicated very large initial increases in production. Several factors must be considered before such a thermal recovery project can be considered an economic success. Successful operations are dependent on initial and repeated productive response to steam injection, productive trends after each steam soak, optimum spacing, and steam costs. Normally, a volume of 3,000-15,000 bbl of high-pressure steam is injected down either tubing or casing. The average well is produced for a period ranging from 2-7 mo., until the decline in production necessitates another treatment with steam. This reinjection of steam and subsequent production of oil can be repeated several times. A total of 9 case histories is presented. As these examples indicate, there are wide variations in the results obtained from steam-soak operation. At this time, the payout time is considered as the most important economic factor until the results of multiple cycle operations are known and the well-spacing requirements determined. Many of the projects have shown favorable payout periods.
OSTI ID:
6623240
Journal Information:
Pet. Equip.; (United States), Journal Name: Pet. Equip.; (United States) Vol. 28:3; ISSN PEEQA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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