Olefin sulfonate-improved steam foam drive

摘要

Steam mobility-reducing capability of an olefin sulfonate-containing surfactant formulation for reducing the mobility of steam of a selected quality within a selected subterranean oil-containing reservoir is tested. Steam of the selected quality and a steam-containing fluid which has substantially the same quality containing the surfactant formulation, an electrolyte and a noncondensable gas upflow through columns of permeable porous mediums containing the reservoir oil. The mass flow rates through the columns are substantially equivalent to a selected flow rate in a near-well portion of the reservoir. Steady-state pressure within the columns are measured and the permeability reducing factor of the surfactant formulation is calculated from the pressure measurements.