The Optimal Location of Steam Generators in Large Heavy Oil Fields

SYNOPTIC ABSTRACT

Super-heated steam is often injected into an oil reservoir to warm the oil. This decreases its viscosity and is an effective way to increase oil recovery. It is particularly effective in heavy oil fields. One must first define service areas in order to install a pattern of steam generators to deliver steam into the formation economically and then within each service area, find the one point which minimizes the distance to the served injection wells. The solution to the Multi Weber Problem identifies optimal partitions of sets of fixed points and identifies the Euclidean distance minimization point within each partition. This paper describes its use to design an economically optimal system for the recovery of oil from a heavy oil field. The Schoonebeek field is used as an example.

Key Words and Phrases:

• Heavy oil
• Weber Problem
• Multi Weber Problem
• Schoonebeek
• Steam injection
• Steam generators