A Further Analysis of the Steam Stimulation of Heavy-Oil Wells and Reservoirs

ABSTRACT The application of steam stimulation of wells in oil fields in Venezuela and in the U.S.A. has a history of more than 20 years. Some of the more critical aspects of production rate increase and increase of ultimate recovery of heavy oil have been reconsidered. The earliest large scale project in Venezuela has produced since 1964 with much additional oil and is still producing economically. Its performance analysis has shed some light on reservoir compaction and solution gas drive as drive mechanisms in heterogeneous sands. Applications of steam stimulation with different drive mechanisms such as steamdrive, waterdrive and gravity drainage, have been carried out. Parameters affecting production rates and the decline rates are now better defined and quantified. Obviously injection of steam in wells for production can stimulate both well PI's and oil producing mechanisms. Approximate steam-soak well models taking into, account stimulation of reservoir mechanism are made and represented by simple mathematical expressions for use in practical planning systems and reservoir performance simulations.