Water-alternating-steam process improves project economics at West Coalinga field

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · SPE Reservoir Engineering (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/21579-PA· OSTI ID:7172908

Hong, K C; Stevens, C E ^[1]

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1. Chevron U.S.A. Production Co. (United States)

This paper reports on the water-alternating-steam process (WASP) applied to vertical expansion (VE) sands in the pilot area of Section 13D, West Coalinga field to stop wasteful steam production and to improve vertical conformance of injected steam. Before the WASP application, steam breakthrough in the VE sands caused well sanding, cutting of downhole tubulars, and high-temperature-fluid handling problems. To alleviate these problems, pumps had to be raised in five wells and one well had to be shut in, reducing oil production from the VE sands and the lower waterflooded zones. A WASP field test, based on a numerical simulation study, was implemented in July 1988 with alternating slugs of water and steam, each injected over 4 months. The WASP eliminated steam production, allowing the pumps to be lowered and the one shut-in well to return to production.

• OSTI ID: 7172908
• Journal Information: SPE Reservoir Engineering (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: SPE Reservoir Engineering (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States) Vol. 7:4; ISSN 0885-9248; ISSN SREEEF
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUID INJECTION PROCESSES
OIL WELLS
PRODUCTIVITY
STEAM INJECTION
STIMULATION
WATERFLOODING
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS