Experimental Fireflood in a Very Viscous Oil-Unconsolidated Sand Reservoir, S.E. Pauls Valley Field, Oklahoma

Abstract

Experimental Fireflood in a Very Viscous Oil-Unconsolidated Sand Reservoir, S.E. Pauls Valley Field, Oklahoma Lincoln F. Elkins; Lincoln F. Elkins Sohio Petroleum Co. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Dick Morton; Dick Morton Sohio Petroleum Co. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar William A. Blackwell William A. Blackwell Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the Fall Meeting of the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, San Antonio, Texas, October 1972. Paper Number: SPE-4086-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/4086-MS Published: October 08 1972 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Elkins, Lincoln F., Morton, Dick, and William A. Blackwell. "Experimental Fireflood in a Very Viscous Oil-Unconsolidated Sand Reservoir, S.E. Pauls Valley Field, Oklahoma." Paper presented at the Fall Meeting of the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, San Antonio, Texas, October 1972. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/4086-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Search Advanced Search AbstractThis field produces 8000 cp 100 API oil by natural water drive from an unconsolidated sand reservoir about 100 feet thick. Nearly all wells produced 10–50% sand initially, declining later to 0.1–2%, regardless of completion method. Apparently this production of sand created inter-connecting "worm hole" porosity extending at least between wells on porosity extending at least between wells on 10-acre spacing. Some of the evidence for this during primary production was:1 near-gauge caliper surveys of open hole sections after production of large volumes of sand;2 rapid movement of injected water and tracers between wells; and3 production of Jelflake lost circulation material from two wells following its use in workover and deepening of a third well.Air was injected below the oil-water contact in an edge well as a partial test for spontaneous ignition in a peripheral fireflood. In about four months some offset wells were converted to flowing after breakthrough of "air" devoid of oxygen but also containing very little carbon dioxide. When produced "air" reached high oxygen containing test was stopped. Later a structurally high 'Well was ignited. Extremely rapid travel of carbon dioxide to 2 offset wells was also indicative of inter-connected "worm hole" porosity created by production of sand.The fireflood stimulated two offset wells such that total field production increased from 100- to 170 BOPD previously to a maximum 400 BOPD six months later and averaged 310 BOPD for the 16 months of air injection. Cumulative average air-oil ratio was 6 Mcf/bbl. Although the test was physically successful, abnormally high physically successful, abnormally high producing well operating expense precluded producing well operating expense precluded continuing operation and expansion of the project. IntroductionThe Southeast Pauls Valley Field, Garvin County, Oklahoma, producing from the oil Creek Sand at a depth of 4300 feet, 'Was discovered in March, 1955. Since it produces very viscous oil from unconsolidated sand, operating problems have been severe. Keywords: enhanced recovery, breakthrough, thermal method, Upstream Oil & Gas, steam-assisted gravity drainage, oil-water contact, ignition, experimental fireflood, liner, reservoir Subjects: Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Formation Evaluation & Management, Thermal methods This content is only available via PDF. 1972. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.