The Application of In-Situ Steam Foams To Improve Recovery in Mature Steam Drives

Abstract

ABSTRACT Gravity segregation (steam override) and poor areal and vertical sweep efficiencies have limited recoveries in many heavy oil reservoirs since the first thermal projects were initiated in the 1960's. In many instances the injected steam prematurely breaks through into producing wells creating steam channels. In-situ steam foams have proven effective at reducing the mobility in these steam channels and diverting the injected steam into alternate flow paths, thus improving the sweep efficiency of the steam drive process. This paper describes the efforts associated with the performance under two Department of Energy (DOE) cost-sharing contracts to reduce steam channeling in a conventional steam drive using in-situ steam foam additives. Three steam injection patterns, each being treated with a different steam foam additive, will be presented. In each of the cases, the steam foam additive altered the sweep efficiency and incremental oil production was noted. The cost to produce an incremental bbl of oil varied from $1.50 to $48.81.