Print this pageEnhanced Oil Recovery in the Midway-Sunset Field, San Jaoquin Basin, California: A DOE Class III Oil Technology Demonstration Project
SCHAMEL, STEVEN, CRAIG FOSTER, MIUND DEO, ROBERT SWAIN, MIKE SIMMONS, DOUG SPRINKEL, CRETIES JENKINS, and RAY WYDRINSKI
A previously idle portion of the Midway-Sunset Field, the ARCO Western Energy Pru Fee property, is being brought back into commercial production through tight integration of geologic characterization, geostatistical modeling, reservoir simulation and petroleum engineering. This property, shut-in over a decade ago as economically marginal using conventional cyclic steaming methods, has a 200-300 foot thick oil column in the Monarch Sand. However, the sand lacks effective steam barriers and has a thick water-saturated transition zone above the oil-water contact. These factors have required an innovative approach to steam flood production design that will balance optimal total oil production against economically viable steam-oil ratios and production rates. The methods used in this Class III demonstration project are accessible to most operators in the Midway-Sunset Field and could be used to revitalize declining production of heavy oils throughout the region.