Influence of Viscosity and Reservoir Dip on the Behaviour of the Steam Condensation Front during Experimental Steamdrive Displacements

摘要

The present study contains the results of an experimental and theoretical investigation onto the influence of oil viscosities and reservoir inclinations on the behavior of the steam condensation front. All experiments were performed under stable conditions. Increasing viscosity of the displaced fluid tend to decrease the stability of the steam displacement process. Theoretical calculations, neglecting the capillary forces, show the same tendency, although a discrepancy exists between calculated and experimental obtained results. Temperature distribution downstream of the steam condensation front have been determined experimentally as well as by numerical calculations. The isotherms are strongly influenced by the reservoir inclination, due to the enlargement of the surface of the steam condensation front at smaller reservoir inclinations and hence enlargement of the heat conduction effect.