Getty adds steam muscle at Kern River

Journal Article · Mon Nov 24 04:00:00 EST 1969 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6985367

Getty Oil Co., a pioneer in steam work, has added 6 huge 50 million btu/hr steam generators to its array of 103 units operating in the 70-yr-old field. These steam generators are twice the size of the largest previously used by Getty in California. The new units give Getty a total of 109 steam generators at Kern River. The move to larger generators, Getty engineers say, is due to their higher efficiency. With the close economics of low-gravity crude, cost-shaving is vital in Kern River operations. The huge water supply for the generators is recovered from the producing wells. The water is processed at a reclamation plant which went on stream in July 1968. It is designed to clean and filter 200,000 bpd and is currently processing about 140,000 bpd. Water cut at Kern River is over 80%. Produced water is piped to the reclamation facility where flotation cells and diatomaceous- earth filters remove the excess oil. Oxygen is stripped out with a vacuum deaerator, and the water is softened with sodium zeolite. Kern River is one of California's oldest giant oil fields. A brief history is given of the field, including the steaming program.

• OSTI ID: 6985367
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 67:47; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
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GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
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