Steamflood recovery method for an oil-bearing reservoir in a dipping subterranean formation

摘要

A plurality of production wells penetrate an oil-bearing reservoir in a dipping subterranean formation. Steam injection wells are located up- dip and down-dip of each oil-bearing reservoir. Some time after steam breakthrough in the upper-most one of the production wells, this well is converted to a steam injection well, and the original up-dip steam injection well is shut in. Some time after steam breakthrough in the lower-most one of the production wells, this well is converted to a steam injection well, and the original down-dip steam injection well is shut-in. Some time after steam breakthrough occurs at the remaining up- dip and down-dip production wells, these wells are sequentially converted to steam injection wells, and the preceding up-dip and down-dip steam injection wells are shut in.