How heavy oil is produced in eastern Venezuela

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1974 · Pet. Int.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6797691

Ramirez, N G; Pina, A; Garcia, F

Mechanical pumping, hydraulic pumping, and steam stimulation are used to produce heavy oil in E. Venezuela. In highly viscous crudes, Mene Grande has adopted the use of gas oil in the production tubing to lubricate the rods; where gas oil is scarce, the tubing is a sealed system and the oil is produced up the annulus. Downhole dilution is also used for 10/sup 0/ to 13/sup 0/ API oil, which is produced at volumes up to 1,400 bpd per well, using 20/sup 0/ to 25/sup 0/ API oil from nearby fields to produce a mixture of average 15/sup 0/ gravity. Hydraulic pumping has been widely accepted in the Mene Grande operations in E. Venezuela. The first type used was a closed system, requiring an extra tubing string for the power oil. The free piston has simplified hydraulic pumping. Steam injection has been successful in shallow formations of 300 to 1,200 ft; in deeper formation (over 3,000 ft) damage to casing is a serious problem.

• Research Organization: Mene Grande Oil Co
• OSTI ID: 6797691
• Journal Information: Pet. Int.; (United States), Journal Name: Pet. Int.; (United States) Vol. 32:7; ISSN PTRIB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: Spanish

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
DAMAGE
DEPTH
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DIMENSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS OILS
LATIN AMERICA
LUBRICATION
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PUMPING
RECOVERY
SOUTH AMERICA
STEAM INJECTION
THERMAL RECOVERY
TUBES
VENEZUELA
VISCOSITY
WELL CASINGS
WELLS