Steam injection profiling

Details Steam injection profiling Steam injection profiling

1987-08-19

1988-12-27

Suchfield, George A.

Wells

Processes

With indicating, testing, measuring or locating

166303, E21B 4324, E21B 4908

Patent

active

047934140

ABSTRACT:
An improved method and apparatus for determining injection profiles in a steam injection well is disclosed. The mass flow rate and quality of steam entering the well is measured. A well logging tool is then used to measure temperature and/or pressure profiles within the perforated zone of the well. A liquid phase tracer is then injected for a short time into the well with the steam. The well logging tool contains dual gamma ray detectors and is used to measure the transit time of the tracer slug. In the preferred embodiment, the liquid tracer is radioactive elemental iodine or sodium iodide. The procedure is repeated with a vapor phase tracer which is radioactive Krypton, Argon, or Xenon in the preferred embodiment. A vapor and liquid profile can then be calculated with simple mass balance equations. In a second approach, a spinner survey and a single tracer survey are conducted. By combining the spinner and tracer survey results, vapor and liquid rates can be determined and steam injection profiles can be calculated.

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