Treatment of steam feedwater with CO.sub.2 to reduce oil well reservoir gravel and sand dissolution during steam injection

摘要

A method of inhibiting the dissolution of the gravel pack and/or the erosion of silicate-containing formations subjected to steam- enhanced oil recovery processes. The method includes the addition of CO. sub.2 into the residual liquid phase of the steam, prior to injection down the well bore, to reduce the pH to form about pH 5 to about pH 9.