Steam Optimization Topic, Injection Rate Reduction vs. Surface Steam Quality Reduction

Abstract

Abstract Reduction of heat injection rate is a common practice in steam flood projects to reduce fuel cost and extend project economic life. Fuel consumption reduction can be achieved either by reducing the injected mass rate at same steam quality or reducing steam quality at same mass injection rate. This paper presents literatures review on this topic, analysis and observations from field data in a major steam flooding project south of Oman. Injectors wellhead temperature and pressure was used to identify saturation status of injected fluid and correlate count of hot water injectors with changes in surface pipelines steam quality. Portable steam quality measurement units were utilized to obtain numerous surveys to analyze changes in injectors wellhead steam quality as results of field average generated steam quality. In addition, conceptual pattern simulation model was created for purpose of investigating the impact of reducing surface steam quality compared to reduction of injected mass with total injected head preserved. Results and conclusions are presented to illustrate the impact of the compared steam optimization methods. Clear correlation was observed from both, field data analysis and reservoir modeling work and produced water cut changes. Comprehensive analysis is presented to demonstrate the relation between steam quality distribution at injectors' wellheads and changes in surface injection lines average steam quality and the count of sub-saturated water injectors.