A field experiment of improved steam drive with in-situ foaming

Conference · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6869773

Brigham, W E; Castanier, L M; Malito, J A; Marcou, J A; Sanyal, S K

This paper is a progress report on the design and execution of a field experiment on recovery of heavy oils by steam drive enhanced by additives. The goal of this project is to study the effect of injection of a commercial surfactant (Suntech IV) and nitrogen on the behavior of a conventional steam drive. The laboratory studies leading to the design and implementation of this field experiment have been referenced many times, consequently in this paper we will emphasize field data obtained in the following areas: reservoir definition, monitoring of the progress of the experiment, production evaluation in a heavy oil reservoir. Several standard and experimental analytical methods have been applied and their validity in the Kern River field test is discussed. Now in its third year, the project has seen the injection of three slugs of surfactant and nitrogen at different rates. The analysis of the results to date show a considerable improvement in oil recovery by steam drive caused by the addition of surfactant and nitrogen to the steam. The changes in production behavior of the reservoir caused by the additives are analyzed and discussed. The economics of this project are difficult to determine at this point but look promising.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ.
• OSTI ID: 6869773
• Report Number(s): CONF-840495-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE12784
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ADDITIVES
COLLOIDS
DATA
DISPERSIONS
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FIELD TESTS
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOAMS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
INFORMATION
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
PRODUCTIVITY
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
STEAM INJECTION
SURFACTANTS
SWEEP EFFICIENCY
TESTING
THERMAL RECOVERY
VISCOSITY
WELLS