Vol. 13 No. 1 (2015): Fuentes, el reventón energético
Articles

Steamflooding in medium oil. Recovery and profitableness

Paola Andrea Leon Naranjo
Escuela de Ingeniería de Petróleos. Universidad Industrial de Santander. Bucaramanga. Colombia.
Danelys Leonor Bernal Correa
Escuela de Ingeniería de Petróleos. Universidad Industrial de Santander. Bucaramanga. Colombia.
Samuel Fernando Muñoz Navarro
Escuela de Ingeniería de Petróleos. Universidad Industrial de Santander. Bucaramanga. Colombia.
Anibal Ordoñez Rodriguez
Ingeniero de petróleos. Instituto Colombiano del Petróleo (ICP), Grupo de Recobro Mejorado, Piedecuesta, Santander, Colombia

Published 2015-08-11

Keywords

  • Steamflooding,
  • Numerical Simulation,
  • Medium Oil,
  • Destilation

How to Cite

Leon Naranjo, P. A., Bernal Correa, D. L., Muñoz Navarro, S. F., & Ordoñez Rodriguez, A. (2015). Steamflooding in medium oil. Recovery and profitableness. Fuentes, El reventón energético, 13(1), 21–31. https://doi.org/10.18273/revfue.v13n1-2015002

Abstract

The mobility of medium and light oils has allowed that reservoirs are exploited under scenarios of primary production and immiscible displacement as waterflooding. Although the results have been favorable, the need for energy and low recovery rates have generated the possibility of implementing techniques not previously considered viable in such reservoirs. is a process of heat recovery which generates recovery mechanisms such as the expansion of the rock and fluids, reducing oil viscosity and distillation of the lightest of the same fractions, the latter being the most representative effect on deposits medium-rare as cited by the consulted literature. Given the early stage of research and limited applicability of the technique, a study based on numerical simulation to argue the technical feasibility of the process was performed. For this four models with different sizes stratified pattern, which represent a simplified form petrophysical properties of a Colombian oil field of medium oil. This field was chosen based on the ranges set by different authors for the application of the technique. A sensitivity analysis to the injection rate was also performed with the aim of selecting the best scenario of exploitation (rate of injection-spacing). This decision was made based on the analysis performed the behavior of the recovery factor, the steam-oil ratio, break time and financial criteria such as net present value and internal rate of return. Finally a spacing of 2.5 acres (10117 m2) and an injection rate of 500 bbls /d (79.5 m3 / day) make the best scenario, ensuring both the occurrence of recoverymechanisms such as the financial viability of the project.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. BLEVINS, T.R; DUERKSEN, J.H; AULT, J.W; Light Oil Steam Flooding- An Emerging Technology. Journal of Petroleum Technology. U.S.A. Julio, 1984. 1122 p.

2. BURZLAFF, A.A. Thermal Simulation of Elk Hills Light-Oil Steamflood Pilot U.S. Society of Petroleum Engineers. USA .1992. 1-14 p.

3. CABRALES, Laura; RUIZ, Sandra. Evaluación de la eficiencia térmica a partir de la relación arenaarcilla en un proceso de inyección continua de vapor en yacimientos estratificados de crudo pesado con arenas delgadas. Universidad Industrial de Santander. 2013. 30 p.

4. HANZLIK, Edward. Steamflooding as an alternative EOR process for light oil reservoirs. Society of Petroleum Engineers. Texas, U.S.A. 1981.

5. JANNET, Mc. General Overview of the Elk Hills Field. Society of Petroleum Engineers. Anchorage, Alaska May 22 -24, 1996. 1-10 p.

6. LIM, K.T. Steam Distillation and Oil Quality Change During Thermal Oil Recovery. Stanford University. Society of Petroleum Engineers. U.S.A. 1992. 215 p.

7. LOPEZ, Sergio Andrés. Estudio comparativo de los métodos convencionales de recobro aplicados en yacimientos que presentan altas relaciones de movilidad. Universidad Industrial de Santander. 2006. 1- 189 p.

8. MAMORA, D. D. An Analytical Model for Light Oil Recovery by Steam Distillation. Texas A&M University and G. Sutadiwiria, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Pertamina.1999.

9. OVALLES, Cesar. Physical and numerical simulations of steamflooding in a medium crude oil reservoir , Maracaibo lake, Venezuela. Socieity of Petroleum Enginners. 2002. 1-7 p.

10. PALMA, Jorge; MEJIA, Jenny. Metodología para la evaluación económica y el análisis de riesgo e incertidumbre de un proyecto de inyección de agua”. Universidad Industrial de Santander, UIS. Bucaramanga 2008. 1-144 p.

11. PINTO, Jhon. Desarrollo de una metodología para la implementación de la administración de energía en procesos de inyección continua de vapor a través de la simulación numérica de yacimientos y métodos analíticos. Universidad industrial de Santander. 2013. P 130-133.

12. PÉREZ, Alfredo. Benchmarking of Steamflood Field Projects in Light/Medium Crude Oils. Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV), Society of Petroleum Engineers. 2001. 2-7 p.

13. WU, Ching H. A Critical Rewiev of Steamflood Mechanisms. Colorado School of Mines. Society of Petroleum Engineers. 1977. 1-12 p.