HEAVY AND THERMAL OIL RECOVERY PRODUCTION MECHANISMS
The Stanford University Petroleum Research Institute (SUPRI-A) conducts a broad spectrum of research intended to help improve the recovery efficiency from difficult to produce reservoirs including heavy oil and fractured low permeability systems. Our scope of work is relevant across near-, mid-, and long-term time frames. The primary functions of the group are to conduct direction-setting research, transfer research results to industry, and educate and train students for careers in industry. Presently, research in SUPRI-A is divided into 5 main project areas. These projects and their goals include: (1) Multiphase flow and rock properties--to develop better understanding of the physics of displacement in porous media through experiment and theory. This category includes work on imbibition, flow in fractured media, and the effect of temperature on relative permeability and capillary pressure. (2) Hot fluid injection--to improve the application of nonconventional wells for enhanced oil recovery and elucidate the mechanisms of steamdrive in low permeability, fractured porous media. (3) Mechanisms of primary heavy oil recovery--to develop a mechanistic understanding of so-called ''foamy oil'' and its associated physical chemistry. (4) In-situ combustion--to evaluate the effect of different reservoir parameters on the insitu combustion process. (5) Reservoir definition--to develop and improve techniques for evaluating formation properties from production information. What follows is a report on activities for the past year. Significant progress was made in all areas.
- Research Organization:
- Stanford University (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC26-00BC15311
- OSTI ID:
- 816278
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 30 Sep 2002
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
SURPI Heavy Oil Research Program, Twenty-Second Annual Report, SUPRI TR-117
SUPRI heavy oil research program. Annual report, February 8, 1995--February 7, 1996