Alfred Brown

A Laboratory Study on Steam Distillation in Porous Media

Steam distillation investigations were made on crude oils in porous media to measure steam distillation yields and to determine the effect of process parameters on the distillation mechanism. Experiments were performed in a vertically oriented, 3-ft long, 3-in. diameter cell, designed to avoid steam displacement and entrainment of oil during steam distillation. Both saturated and superheated steam distillations were made on crude oils ranging in gravity from 9/sup 0/ to 36/sup 0/ API. These tests were performed at pressure ranging from 200 to 500 psig and steam temperatures ranging from 387/sup 0/ to 600/sup 0/F. Experimental results show that the equilibrium-saturated steam distillation yields are mainly dependent on the oil composition and may not correlate with crude API gravity. The yields are basically independent of the porous media and steam injection rates investigated. Changes in steam saturation pressure and temperature have insignificant effect on the yields; however, superheated steam significantly increases the yields for some crude oils. (13 refs.)

A Laboratory Study of the Tapered-Quality Steam-Water Process on a Light Oil

The tapered-quality steam-water process, in which steam injection is converted to water injection via gradually decreasing steam qualities, is described. Laboratory tests performed in linear sand packs on a 43 API gravity crude oil show that (1) steam injection is very effective in recovering light oil, and (2) the tapered-quality steam-water flood is at least equal to, and potentially better than, the conventional steam flood in energy efficiency. This study reviews the conventional steam flood as applied to a light oil reservoir, and then examines a modified process that offers potential improvement in economics.