Page 40 - Petroleum and Gas Field Processing

oil, the recovery method is called thermal recovery. The three most
common thermal recovery methods are as follows:
1. Steam Stimulation: In this method, steam is injected into the
producing well for a specified period of time (normally more
than a month); then, the well is shut off for another period of
time (normally a few days). The injected steam heats up the
surrounding formation, causing significant reduction in oil
viscosity. The well is then put on production for a period of time
until the oil flow declines. The process is then repeated through
the same cycle of injection, shutting off, and production. This
process is also known as the Hugh and Pugh method.
2. Steam Flooding: This method is similar to the water-flooding
process, except that steam is used instead of water. The steam is
injected into an injection well to reduce the oil viscosity while the
condensed steam (hot water) displaces the oil toward the
producing wells.
3. In Situ Combustion: In this process, air is injected into the
formation through an injection well under conditions that
initiate ignition of the oil within the nearby formation. The
combustion zone creates a front of distilled oil, steam, and gases.
Continued air injection drives the combustion front toward the
producing wells. The combination of heating and displacement
by the steam, gases, and condensed liquids enhances the recovery
of the oil.

1.8 PRODUCTION ENGINEERING ROLE AND FUNCTIONS

Production engineers have probably the most important role in both the
development and operating stages of the field. They are responsible for
making the development and production strategies prepared by the
reservoir engineers a reality. Production engineers are responsible for
designing and installing the well completions that are capable of producing
the desired volumes of oil/gas with the prescribed methods of production.
They are also responsible for maintaining the wells at their best producing
conditions throughout the life of the field. These two major responsibilities
are classified as subsurface production engineering. Still, production
engineers are responsible for designing, installing, operating, and
maintaining all surface production facilities starting from the flow lines
at the wellhead and ending with the delivery of oil and gas to the end user.
This is classified as surface production engineering, which is the main theme
of this book. Both the subsurface and surface production engineering

Copyright 2003 by Marcel Dekker, Inc. All Rights Reserved.