Heat and Mass Transport in Steam-Drive Processes

Steam-injection tests in the field have shown that heat transport in the oil/water region, ahead of the steam zone, may play a significant part in the production process. Since earlier theoretical work on steam drive neglects heat flow from steam zone into the oil/water region, a re- examination and an extension of that theory are presented. Experimental results show that the theory gives an accurate description of steam zone expansion before the critical time. At times relatively near critical time and also after critical time experimental data show theoretical steam zone volumes to be somewhat high. Even so, the accuracy of the calculated steam zone volumes is sufficient for practical purposes.