Steamflooding Experiences at Petrotrin (Trintopec's Operations): A Historical and Technical Perspective

Abstract

Thermal oil recovery was first initiated in Trintopec's operations in 1966, with a small cyclic pilot project in the Company's Palo Seco field, Since that inception, twentyseven (27) years of thermal recovery, comprising both cyclic and flood-type operations, have witnessed vigorous growth and dynamic expansion to the extent that, by 1993, the thennal recovery statistics of Trintopec's portion of the now overall Company's (Petrotrin's) operations are as follows:•Steamflooding operations exist in all the major land fields, viz.: Palo Seco, Central Los Bajos, Guapo, Fyzabad and Apex-Quarry ICooraiQuarry,• Production from thermal recovery averages 7,500 bopd, representing 50% of current land production,• A total of approximately 40,000 bspd is being supplied by twenty-three (23) steam generators to more that one hundred and fifty (150) injectors.This paper presents highlights of Trintopec's experiences in the design, implementation and operation of its thermal oil recovery schemes, New concepts, innovations, modelling and monitoring techniques over the past twentyseven (27) years are outlined.