STEAM SOAK UNDER WAY IN OMANI FIELD

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has commissioned steam soak facilities on the Amal Eastern High structure in Oman. Surface facilities provide softened, deoxygenated water for conversion into steam which is injected into the wells at high pressure at rates up to 220 tons/day. The aim is to reduce oil viscosity by as much as 1,000 times. Five steam soak project wells have been completed. A sixth is designed for electromagnetic heating. The last four steam soak producers will be drilled in

Dec. 2, 1991

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has commissioned steam soak facilities on the Amal Eastern High structure in Oman.

Surface facilities provide softened, deoxygenated water for conversion into steam which is injected into the wells at high pressure at rates up to 220 tons/day. The aim is to reduce oil viscosity by as much as 1,000 times.

Five steam soak project wells have been completed. A sixth is designed for electromagnetic heating. The last four steam soak producers will be drilled in first quarter 1992.

PDO said within 15 years enhanced recovery could account for as much as 100,000 b/d of viscous crude that is difficult or impossible to produce conventionally.

Steam soak, together with polymer and steam flooding, hot water injection, and electromagnetic heating of reservoirs could provide the key to unlock an additional 1.5 billion bbl of reserves in Oman, PDO said. The Royal Dutch/Shell Group is responsible for PDO technology development.

Amal Eastern High has about 400 million bbl of very heavy crude in place but only a tiny fraction can be recovered by primary methods.