A 16ÃÂ16ÃÂ5.6 in. scaled, three-dimensional, physical model of a quarter of a 9-spot
pattern was constructed to study the application of two processes designed to improve the
efficiency of steam injection. The first process to be tested is the use of propane as a
steam additive with the purpose of increasing recovery and accelerating oil production.
The second process involves the use of a novel production configuration that makes use
of a vertical injector and a smart horizontal producer in an attempt to mitigate the effects
of steam override.
The experimental model was scaled using the conditions in the San Ardo field in
California and crude oil from the same field was used for the tests. Superheated steam at
190 â 200úC was injected at 48 cm3/min (cold water equivalent) while maintaining the
flowing pressures in the production wells at 50 psig. Liquid samples from each producer
in the model were collected and treated to break emulsion and analyzed to determine
water and oil volumes.
Two different production configurations were tested: (1) a vertical well system with a
vertical injector and three vertical producers and (2) a vertical injector-smart horizontal
well system that consisted of a vertical injector and a smart horizontal producer divided
into three sections. Runs were conducted using pure steam injection and steam-propane
injection in the two well configurations.
Experimental results indicated the following. First, for the vertical configuration, the
addition of propane accelerated oil production by 53% and increased ultimate recovery by an additional 7% of the original oil in place when compared to pure steam injection.
Second, the implementation of the smart horizontal system increased ultimate oil
recovery when compared to the recovery obtained by employing the conventional vertical
well system (49% versus 42% of the OOIP).
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/5753 |
| Date | 17 September 2007 |
| Creators | Rivero Diaz, Jose Antonio |
| Contributors | Mamora, Daulat D. |
| Publisher | Texas A&M University |
| Source Sets | Texas A and M University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Book, Thesis, Electronic Dissertation, text |
| Format | 7888341 bytes, electronic, application/pdf, born digital |
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