Quantitative description of steam channels after steam flooding

Steam channeling is one of the main barriers for EOR after steam flooding. In order to enhance the oil recovery in steam flooded reservoirs, steam channel volumes should be precisely known. In this paper, a set of methods has been established in order to study steam channeling quantitatively by using dynamic data. Firstly, steam channeling wells are identified through curves of watercut and temperature. Then, considering the hysteresis phenomenon, channeling relations are identified with the correlation coefficients between injection wells and production wells under different conditions. Lastly, an analytic model, in which steam condensation, pressure and temperature are considered, is established to calculate the steam channel volumes. A production well named L31615 in some block in Henan Oilfield in China is systematically analyzed by using the method es- tablished. The whole block is further analyzed, and the distribution map of steam channels and the steam channel volumes are obtained. The results show that steam channeling does not only occur inside a well group, but also sometimes occurs between wells in different well groups. The calculation of the steam channel volumes provides a theoretical basis for bringing a remedial action like plugging into operation.