Improved Steamflood Analytical Model

Abstract

Summary The Jones (1981) steamflood model incorporates oil displacement by steam as described by Myhill and Stegemeier (1978), and a three-component capture factor based on empirical correlations. The main drawback of the model, however, is the unsatisfactory prediction of the oil production peak: It is usually significantly lower than the observed value. Our study focuses on improving this aspect of the Jones model. In our study, we simulated the production performance of a five-spot-steamflood-pattern unit and compared the results against those based on the Jones model (1981). To obtain a satisfactory match between simulation and Jones-analytical-model results, at the start and height of the production peak, the following refinements to the Jones model were necessary. First, the dimensionless steam-zone size AcD was modified to account for the decrease in oil viscosity during steamflood and its dependence on the steam injection rate. Second, the dimensionless volume of displaced oil produced VoD was modified from its square-root format to an exponential form. The modified model gave very satisfactory results for production performance for up to 20 years of simulated steamflood, compared to the original Jones model. Engineers will find the modified model an improved and useful tool for the prediction of steamflood-production performance.