Steam Drive Optimization
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Steam drive is employed in heavy oil reservoirs to improve oil mobility by reducing the viscosity of reservoir fluids, and provides the additional benefit of producing a hydrocarbon rich vapor phase. The light components are condensed at the condensation front and mix with the oil in place to produce a lower viscosity crude oil. Thus steam drive can be an efficient and successful method of heavy oil recovery. Though there have been many steam drive pilots and large-scale operations, an optimization of the steam injection process has not been fully researched.The objective of this research was to determine an optimal injection schedule to minimize steam use and maximize oil recovery. This objective was achieved by applying economic constraints on steam drive production performance calculations. The primary steps include:1) developing a representative steam-drive model to convert heat injection into an oil recovery prediction,2) incorporating an economic model to relate injection and handling costs with production revenue,3) optimizing the economic function using a multi-variable, non-linear optimization technique.A general optimization method has been developed to maximize net present value by adjusting injection rate. Prior to steam breakthrough the maximum injection rate feasible is recommended, then after breakthrough, reductions in injection rate provide the most economically efficient recovery history.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Date created | September 1994 |
Creators/Contributors
| Author | Garg, Amita |
|---|---|
| Primary advisor | Brigham, William E. |
| Degree granting institution | Stanford University, Department of Petroleum Engineering |
Subjects
| Subject | School of Earth Energy & Environmental Sciences |
|---|---|
| Genre | Thesis |
Bibliographic information
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- Use and reproduction
- User agrees that, where applicable, content will not be used to identify or to otherwise infringe the privacy or confidentiality rights of individuals. Content distributed via the Stanford Digital Repository may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor.
Preferred citation
- Preferred Citation
- Garg, Amita. (1994). Steam Drive Optimization. Stanford Digital Repository. Available at: https://purl.stanford.edu/sd616qs6517
Collection
Master's Theses, Doerr School of Sustainability
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- brannerlibrary@stanford.edu
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