A Study on continuous and intermittent THAI processes in Brazil's Northeastern Region

摘要

Toe-to-Heel Air Injection - THAI is an enhanced oil recovery technique that employs in situ combustion combined with technologies for horizontal well drilling, which is unprecedented in Brazilian oilfields. Motivated by this context, this research is intended to studying the application of the THAI process in a semisynthetic reservoir, with characteristics similar to those found in Brazil's Northeastern region. At the end, it was demonstrated that the intermittent air injection increased the oil recovery, when compared to the continuous injection, what reinforce the need for further research turned to ongoing and future projects in mature oilfields.