Page 378 - Standard Handbook Petroleum Natural Gas Engineering VOLUME2

544 Reservoir Engineering

Heat that is generated lowers the viscosity of the crude oil and results in
improved recovery. With the steam drive or steamflooding process, steam is
generated on the surface and injected into the injection wells. Some companies
are now exploring the use of downhole steam generators in deeper wells where
heat loss can be a serious problem. A primary problem with steam flooding is
the channeling of steam through thin sections of the reservoir. To combat this
problem, several organizations are studying the use of surfactants to create a
foam in situ for improving sweep efficiency.
For steamflooding, the most important laboratory tests are, of course, viscosity
of the crude oil and permeability of the reservoir core material. To be economically
viable, steamfloods must be conducted in thick, very permeable, shallow reser-
voirs that contain very viscous crude.

REFERENCES

Bask Principles, Definitions, and Data
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