Williams Holding Lease Steamflood Demonstration Project, Cat Canyon Field. Final Report

摘要

The objective of this pilot program was to evaluate the efficiency and economics of the steam displacement process for future full-scale development of the Cat Canyon S1-B reservoir and in similar heavy crude oil reservoirs. Acivities prior to the initiation of displacement steam injection in April, 1977 included cyclic steam stimulations of the production wells, acquisition of steam generator permits, and the drilling of pilot injection wells. Initial displacement operations were hampered by packer failures and the loss of sand control in the injection wells. Steamflood response occurred over a ten-month period beginning in October, 1977 in four of the nine pilot producers. Subsequent attempts to divert steam to the non-responding producers failed. Poor oil production and high water/oil ratios characterized steamflood performance. Computer thermal simulation studies identified steam channeling, over-injection of steam, and poor quality steam at the sand face as causes of the adverse response. This led to a decision to temporarily suspend steamflood injection from February, 1980 to December, 1981. Improvement in oil production and a decrease in the water/oil ratio resulted during this dewatering period. Displacement injection was resumed in January, 1982 through insulated tubulars and at lower injection rates. Although steamflood response has occurred in three of the nine producers to date, total pilot production has declined steadily since January, 1982. The non-responding producers have been responsible for the majority of this decline. Additionally, the wells that have responded have not met performance expectations. For these reasons, displacement injection was permanently halted on December 15, 1982. Getty Oil Company is presently operating a third generation pilot using knowledge and experience gained from the Williams Holding DOE pilot and a previous pilot. 21 figures, 3 tables. (ERA citation 08:045511)