Steam-foam mechanistic field trial in the Midway-Sunset field

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · SPE Reservoir Engineering (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/21780-PA· OSTI ID:7055619

Friedmann, F; Smith, M E; Guice, W R ^[1]; Gump, J ^[2]; Nelson, D G ^[3]

---

1. Chevron Petroleum Technology Co., La Habra, CA (United States)
2. Chevron USA Production Co., Bakersfield, CA (United States)
3. Chevron USA Production Co., Coalinga, CA (United States)

A one-pattern, steam-foam mechanistic field trial was conducted in Section 26C of the Midway-Sunset field (upper Monarch sand). The test objectives were (1) to understand the mechanisms of steam diversion caused by foam under reservoir conditions, (2) to establish whether foam can exist in-depth away from the injection well, and (3) to measure incremental oil that can be attributed to foam. Surfactant was injected with steam and nitrogen continuously, and bottom-hole injection pressure (BIHP) increased from 100 to 300 psig, indicating good foam generation. Better steam distribution across the injector's perforations occurred when foam was generated. Improvements in both vertical and areal sweep efficiency of steam were observed. Substantial temperature and gas saturation increases coincided with surfactant breakthrough and local reservoir pressure increases at observation wells. Complementary laboratory core-floods showed that foam generation could occur at low-pressure gradients, which are typical of in-depth conditions. Both laboratory and field data were interpreted as evidence that the in-depth presence of foam was the result of local generation wherever surfactant, steam, and nitrogen were present, rather than propagation of a foam bank generated near the injector. Some oil-production increase was also observed during the test; however, an accurate quantitative estimate of incremental oil owing to foam was difficult to establish.

• OSTI ID: 7055619
• Journal Information: SPE Reservoir Engineering (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: SPE Reservoir Engineering (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States) Vol. 9:4; ISSN 0885-9248; ISSN SREEEF
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ADDITIVES
CALIFORNIA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
NORTH AMERICA
OIL WELLS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
STEAM INJECTION
STIMULATION
SURFACTANTS
SWEEP EFFICIENCY
USA
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS