UNIT – 4

THERMAL RECOVERY
METHODS
VAISHALI SHARMA
 THERMAL METHODS

‘’A process in which heat is introduced intentionally into a subsurface

accumulation of organic compounds for the purpose of recovering fuels
through wells’’

Objective - To reduce oil viscosity in order to increase its mobility,

through the application of heat.

Methods –

1. Hot Fluid Injection

- Cyclic Steam Stimulation
- Steam flooding
2. In-situ combustion “Fire flooding”
Recovery from Thermal Methods
 Comparison

Hot Fluid Injection Insitu Combustion

1. Heat is produced at the 1. Heat is created in the

surface. formation
2. Injected fluid carries the 2. The injected fluid is one of
heat produced. the reactants involved in
3. The injected fluid at their an exothermic reaction
maximum temperature taking place in the
initially comes into contact reservoir.
with swept zone and 3. Heat is only released
consequently there is a heat exactly where it is required
loss. i.e. where the oil is to be
4. Application of this method displaced.
highly dependent on its 4. Heat loss is not generally a
thermal efficiency limiting factor in Insitu
Combustion.
 METHOD -1
CYCLIC
STEAM
STIMULATI
ON

HOT FLUID INJECTION

STEAM
FLOODING
CYCLIC STEAM STIMULATION

 Steam is injected into a well at a high rate and high

pressure for short time (10 days to one month).

 Following the well may be shut in for a few days “soaking

period” for heat distribution.

 After that, the well is allowed to flow for about 6-12

months.
** When production rate decrease to the minimum economic rate, the whole cycle is repeated.
Huff – Soak - Puff
 Factors affecting Performance

The amount of oil recovered per cycle is a function of:

 The amount of steam injected
 The net sand thickness of the producing interval
 The surface injection pressure
 The rate at which energy is removed from the formation
through production
 The number of preceding cycles
 Steam properties
 The state of the primary depletion
 Screening Criteria

Formation Thickness, “ft” ≥ 30

Depth, “ft” < 3000
Porosity, “%” > 30
Permeability, “md” 1000-2000
Oil Saturation, “bbl/acre-ft” 1200
API Gravity < 15
Oil Viscosity @ reservoir condition, “cp” 1000-4000
Temperature, “F” 250-450
Oil Recovery, “%” 6-15
 STEAM FLOODING

 “Steam flooding”, “steam drive”, or

“steam displacement” is an important
heavy oil recovery method.

 It has been shown to be effective in low viscosity

oil formation.

 The main effects present in steam flooding are

the oil viscosity reduction and its thermal
expansion.
Zones of Steam
Flooding
Steam Drive Process Scheme and Zones
formed in The reservoir
 ZONE 3 (Transition Zone)

 Thermal Expansion of Oil takes place.

 Heated oil increases in volume.
 Zone 2 (Steam Saturated Zone)

 Oil Displaces by Gas

 Steam Distillation Process Starts to develop
 If the reservoir contains light components in the
condensing zone (i.e. zone 1), and in hot water zone
(i.e. zone 3) , then the light oil vapors condenses and
enriches the existing oil.
 Oil Displacement Efficiency Increases
 Screening Criteria

Formation Thickness, “ft” ≥ 30

Depth, “ft” < 3000
Porosity, “%” > 30
Permeability, “md” 4000
Oil Saturation, “bbl/acre-ft” 1200-1700
API Gravity 13-25
Oil Viscosity @ reservoir condition, “cp” < 1000
Temperature, “F” 250-450
Oil Recovery, “%” 20-40
 METHOD -2

INSITU COMBUSTION
 In-Situ Combustion

 Heat is created in the formation

 The injected fluid is one of the reactants involved

in an exothermic reaction taking place in the
reservoir.

 Heat is only released exactly where it is required

i.e. where the oil is to be displaced.

 Heat loss is not generally a limiting factor in Insitu

Combustion.
 Combustion Front

 Oxygen is consumed to burn the coke deposited on the surface of rock.

 Steam is one of the product formed.
Generation of
 Highest Temperature = 600 to 1200 F
Steam while
burning
Coke Deposition
Source of
Combustion (Air)

Rock Sample

Light & Heavy Rock Sample

Oil + Water
Zones of In-Situ Combustion
Zones of In-Situ Combustion
Reservoir and Fluid Characteristics
 Problem

A combustion test in a confined pattern was conducted on a

depleted oil reservoir with a current oil recovery of 10%. Estimate
the final oil recovery expected after the commercial development of
in-situ combustion method, given the following –

Confined Area = 1.25 Acres

Net thickness = 20 ft

Effective Porosity = 24%

Irreducible water saturation = 25%

Oil formation volume factor = 1.12

Cumulative oil production of the central well as the effect of

combustion, Nc = 12, 470 bbl
Solution
 UNIT - 3

MISCIBLE FLOODING
 Miscible Flooding

1. C – Chase Fluid
2. S - Solvent Slug
3. O – Oil bank

C S O
Ternary Diagrams

Favorable conditions for

Thermodynamic
Miscibility:

1. Low Temperature

2. High Pressure
 Miscible Displacement Processes

 High Pressure Gas Injection

 Enriched Gas Injection (oil is assumed to be heavy)
 LPG Slug Injection
 Alcohol Slug Injection
Surfactant Flooding
Screening Guidelines