What makes a steam project succeed

Journal Article · Mon May 24 04:00:00 EDT 1965 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6895449

Armstrong, T A

This paper outlines the thinking of the panelists participating in the world's first symposium on cyclic steam injection, held recently at an API Pacific Coast District Meeting. General rules for successful cyclic injection were presented by R.L. Perrine (California Univ., Los Angeles), who introduced the panel and served later as moderator. The basic parameters for such a project, according to Perrine, are depth to the producing formation (not more than 3000 ft and preferable shallower), thickness of producing oil sand (net thickness of at least 50 ft), oil saturation (reserves of at least 1200 bbl per acre-ft), reservoir pressure sufficient to move production quickly, low water-oil ration, composition of reservoir fluids, viscosity and gravity, and mechanical condition of the well to be used. The 5 panelists, representing Union Oil Co. of California, Standard Oil Co. of California, Richfield Oil Corp., Mobil Oil Co., and Gulf Oil Corp., agreed that these rules were best. Each presented a case history of a successful project and one that failed, plus an explanation of the reasons for the varied results. Tabulated data show how 11 steam projects in California turned out. Not participating in the panel were 2 of the biggest steamers in the West, Shell Oil Co. and Tidewater Oil Co.

• OSTI ID: 6895449
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 63:21; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUID INJECTION PROCESSES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
OIL WELLS
PERMEABILITY
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESERVOIR ROCK
STEAM INJECTION
STEAM SOAK PROCESSES
WELLS