DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF THE SHIELLS CANYON FIELD STEAM-DISTILLATION DRIVE PILOT PROJECT

Thermal recovery techniques normally are applied to heavy-oil or tar-sand reservoirs in an effort to reduce viscosity and mobilize oil; however, steamflooding also can be an effective recovery technique for light-oil reservoirs. This paper describes a steam-distillation drive pilot project being conducted in the Shiells Canyon Field in California to determine the effectiveness of steamflooding a light-oil reservoir. Overall oil recovery for the project has been good with a reduction in oil saturation from a preflood value of 45% to less than 5% in the steam-swept zone. 6 refs.