ntroduction

Scope. This paper reviews the steam-foam process. It is not an exhaustivesurvey of

the literature, and I apologize to the many contributions that had tobe omitted
because of length limitations. The types of field application ofsteam foam are
discussed first. Examples are taken from reported pilot results.The remainder of the
paper focuses on process mechanisms. Understanding of themechanisms for foam
flow in porous media is still in the formative stage, andmany advances can be
expected. It is hoped that this paper will help thepracticing engineer apply the
process more efficiently and will challenge theresearcher to advance the knowledge
of the process and to develop moreefficient formulations.

History. The concept of using foam for mobility control in petroleumrecovery was
first suggested in 1958 by Bond and petroleum recovery was firstsuggested in 1958
by Bond and Holbrook. The first research on the mechanisms ofthe foam-drive
process was the contribution of Fried. The research in thisfield was pioneered by
Bernard and Holm of Union Oil Co. and Marsden and hiscolleagues at Stanford U.
during the 1960's. In a 1986 literature survey,Marsden gives a history of foam in
porous media. The first process patent forthe steam-foam process was a 1968
patent granted to Needharn, describing aprocess to plug high-permeability strata so
that steam may be diverted into theless-permeable strata. The application of steam
foam to improve the injectionprofiles of steam-soak wells was reported by Fitch and
Minter. The descriptionof a steam-foam-drive process to control gravity override and
the results ofthe first process to control gravity override and the results of the
firstfield test of the process were described in a 1978 patent granted to Dilgren etal.
The 1990's saw a large number of field test reports and research results.Many of the
early field tests are reported in U.S. DOE reports. A survey wasgiven by Peterson
and Schwartz in 1984. Marsden prepared a survey of theliterature on foam in porous
media through 1985. A survey of the foam rheologyliterature was prepared by
Heller and Kuntamukkula in 1987. The Proceedings ofa 1987 symposium on
surfactant-based mobility controls is directed to miscibleprocesses, but the basic
research applies to steam foam as well.