A HIGH-EFFICIENCY TECHNIQUE FOR STEAMFLOODING DEEP, HEAVY OIL RESERVOIRS

A STEAMFLOODING/STEAM GENERATION SYSTEM IS PROPOSED FOR DEEP, HEAVY OIL RESERVOIRS. THIS CONCEPT MINIMIZES THE DOWNHOLE HEAT LOSSES, IMPROVES RELIABILITY AND REDUCES THE COST OF STEAM GENERATION. ITS FEATURES WILL MAKE STEAMING OF VERY DEEP WELLS (BELOW 7500 FEET) TECHNICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE, AND WILL IMPROVE THE ECONOMICS OF SHALLOWER WELL STEAMFLOODING. THIS NOVEL CONCEPT SUPPLIES HEAT TO THE RESERVOIR FACE WITH A DOWNHOLE UNIT AUGMENTED BYHEATED FEEDWATER. THE SYSTEM USES A GAS TURBINE TO SUPPLY HEAT AND COGENERATED ELECTRICAL POWER. PHASE I LABORATORY TESTING WILL ADDRESS THE KEY CORROSION AND OPERABILITY ISSUES OF THE DOWNHOLE UNIT. PHASE II WOULD CONSIST OF PROTOTYPE CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING, DETAILED DESIGN OF DOWNHOLE ASSMEBLY PROCEDURES AND LONGER-TERM PERFORMANCE TESTING.