High sweep efficiency steam drive oil recovery method

Patent · Tue Apr 24 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6645287

Islip, P N

The sweep efficiency of a steam drive process is improved and steam override reduced significantly if steam is injected into a formation until channeling has begun, after which steam injection is terminated and a slug of a thermally stable diverting fluid comprising a high molecular weight hydrocarbon within the temperature range of 500/sup 0/ to 1000/sup 0/ F. is injected into the steam-swept zone and allowed to cool until the diverting fluid has increased in viscosity to a value greater than the in place oil thereby creating a highly immobile slug in the steam-swept zone. Thereafter, injection of steam is continued and oil recovered. Multiple cycles of steam injection and rejection of slugs of diverting fluid may be repeated to improve sweep efficiency depending upon the vertical thickness of the formation.

• Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
• Patent Number(s): US 4444261
• OSTI ID: 6645287
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COOLING
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
OIL WELLS
OPTIMIZATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RECOVERY
STEAM
STEAM INJECTION
STIMULATION
SWEEP EFFICIENCY
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS