1
SPE 54082
Recovery Of Heavy Oil From The Monterey Formation In Offshore California By Cyclic
Injection Of Light Oil Diluent
R. L. Garnett, SPE, and C. L. Dee, SPE, Exxon Company, U.S.A.
Copyright 1999, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1999 SPE International Thermal Operations
and Heavy Oil Symposium held in Bakersfield, California, 17–19 March 1999.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of
information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, as
presented, have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to
correction by the author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any
position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Papers presented at
SPE meetings are subject to publication review by Editorial Committees of the Society of
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prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300
words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledg-
ment of where and by whom the paper was presented. Write Librarian, SPE, P.O. Box
833836, Richardson, TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435.
Abstract
This paper describes a single well pilot in which light oil dilu-
ent was injected through tubing to lower in-situ oil viscosity
and increase production from a low gravity oil well. The pilot
well is located on the Heritage platform in the Santa Ynez Unit
and produces from the Monterey formation. The pilot vali-
dated laboratory data which suggested that large production
rate increases could result from high rate diluent injection.
Introduction
The Monterey formation is a complex reservoir with intense
structuring, fracturing, and highly variable rock properties. It
is a dual porosity system, with low permeability matrix rock
and extensive fracturing. The fractures provide the flow path
to the wells and are well connected to a very large aquifer.
The fluid system is equally complex. The original oil column
was 2,000 ft. thick and the oil gravity varied from 5-19° API.
Gravity-depth relationships vary within the field area.
Heavy oil, as defined in this paper, is oil with dead oil
gravities of approximately 11° API or less. Figure 1 is a geo-
thermal temperature gradient curve for offshore California.
Figure 2 is an estimation of live oil viscosities for Monterey
crude as a function of temperature and dead oil gravity. Re-
covering the heavier oil at economic rates without producing
large volumes of water is a challenge due to a strong aquifer,
highly permeable fractures, and a poor oil-water viscosity ra-
tio. Achieving the large drawdown required to produce heavy
oil at the high rates needed for economic operations offshore
can result in the oil being bypassed by water flowing through
the fractures. Even if bypassing can be avoided, the flow rate
of heavy oil to the wellbore can be low. Furthermore, cooling
of the heavy oil as it reaches the sea floor results in additional
producing problems. As seen in Figure 2, a 10° API oil has an
in-situ viscosity of 100 cp at 200° F. As the heavy oil flows to
the surface and cools, viscosity can rise above 10,000 cp and
cause severe lifting problems. Deep, long throw wells (6,000-
10,000 ft. subsea), an offshore operating environment, a frac-
ture zone with an active aquifer, and low heavy oil prices rule
out most methods of heavy oil recovery. The challenge is to
find a low cost method to lower the viscosity of the oil in both
the near well region and the tubing. This paper documents a
simple and inexpensive way to lower viscosity by an order of
magnitude or more through cyclic injection of light oil.
Theory
Darcy's Law for radial, steady state flow describes fluid flow
in porous media. This simple equation gives guidance and
insight to solve many oil production problems:
q = 7.082 kh(Pe-Pw)/µo Bo ln(re / rw) (1)
This pilot focused on reducing viscosity (µo) as a method
to increase production rate (q). While the other components
are also important, they were less critical for the following
reasons:
1. Fracture permeability in the major producing intervals
of the Monterey formation in the Santa Barbara Channel is
excellent. Wells have produced at rates in excess of 9000
STB/day from as little as 40 ft. TVD of perforated interval.
Average permeabilities are in the multi-darcy range.
2. High drawdowns may be harmful in the long run due to
an unfavorable oil-water viscosity ratio. High drawdowns can
result in water coning and fingering through the fractures,
leaving bypassed oil in the formation. In addition, alternative
lifting methods to increase drawdown can be costly due to long
throws and deep completions in the offshore environment.
Reducing in-situ oil viscosity can improve the oil-water
viscosity ratio, reduce water coning and fingering, reduce wa-
ter cut, reduce lifting problems, and increase production rates
and oil recovery from fractured heavy oil reservoirs.
HE-26 Pilot
Background. The Heritage platform began producing from
the Pescado Field in the Santa Ynez Unit in December, 1993.
2 R. L. GARNETT, C. L. DEE
Wells produce 10-17° API oil from the Monterey and 34 de-
gree API oil from sandstone formations. The Monterey for-
mation consists of thin beds of porcelanite, chert, calcite,
dolomite, and shale. The beds are highly fractured and well
connected both areally and vertically by an extensive fracture
network. The fractures provide the primary flow paths in the
reservoir, and result in well rates as high as 10,000 STB/day.
Formation pressure is supported by re-injection of produced
gas as well as a large well-connected aquifer. The original oil
column was approximately 2,000 ft. thick, and contained un-
dersaturated oil with gravities grading from 19° API at the
crest of the structure to 5° API at the original oil-water contact.
Wells either flow naturally or are produced by high volume
gas lift. The sandstone formations lie below the Monterey and
contain light oil with an associated gas cap. Sandstone wells
flow naturally without the need for artificial lift.
HE-26 History. The HE-26 well was drilled and completed in
July, 1997, in the Monterey formation with perforations at
6,956-6,997 and 7,416-7,437 ft. subsea. The well was stimu-
lated with a combination of xylene, HCL and mud acid using
foam and ball sealers for diversion. After stimulation, the well
produced approximately 100 STB/day of 10.2° API oil and
water. These perforations were isolated with a through tubing
bridge plug and the well was re-worked higher to 6,751-6,801
ft. subsea. The new perforations were stimulated in a similar
fashion. Oil gravity increased slightly, but production rates
were unchanged. The interval was isolated with another
through tubing bridge. A final interval was perforated at
6,667-6,702 ft. subsea. Oil gravity was slightly higher (11.4°
API), but oil production rates once again did not change.
The performance data suggested that a behind pipe cement
channel had caused communication between all the perfora-
tions. If so, the initial completion was probably the only one
stimulated, and most of the flow was coming from these perfo-
rations. In October, 1997 a temperature log confirmed flow
below the base of the uppermost perforations, lending support
to the hypothesis that a channel existed. At this point the
prospects for the well were poor. The initial completion perfo-
rated highly fractured rock but produced only a small amount
of heavy oil and water using stimulation methods which had
proven very effective in the Monterey. Furthermore, even
though the upper completion interval was expected to produce
higher gravity oil, its fracturing was limited. To achieve a
commercial completion in these upper intervals would require
repair of the behind pipe channel and effective stimulation of
the open interval without further breaking down of the cement
behind pipe. The chance of success for this work was assessed
to be low.
For this reason, a low cost option to improve the well's
productivity through other than mechanical means was sought.
Since the lower producing interval was well fractured and had
been stimulated to remove drilling damage, the low productiv-
ity problem was attributed to a high emulsion viscosity result-
ing from a combination of low oil gravity and a 20-30% water
SPE 54082
cut. A method to significantly lower the well's emulsion vis-
cosity was needed.
Key Considerations. Lab tests run in September, 1997,
showed that the viscosity of Monterey emulsions could be re-
duced dramatically by mixing with oil produced from sand-
stone formations. In this study, oil samples were taken from
the HE-25, a sandstone producer, and three Heritage Monterey
wells. The Monterey wells included a wide range of produced
oil gravities and water cuts. Sample viscosities were measured
at 100, 130 and 160° F. Oil from the HE-25 was blended into
the Monterey samples and the resulting emulsion viscosity was
measured at 130° F. Results are shown in Table 1 and Figure
3 and indicate the following:
1. A significant reduction in Monterey emulsion viscosity
was realized by diluting it with a small amount of sandstone
oil.
2. The viscosity decreased greatly at higher dilution ratios.
A mixture of 20% sandstone oil reduced emulsion viscosity to
as low as 10% of its base value, and viscosity reduction had
not leveled out at 50%, the highest dilution ratio tested.
3. The viscosity reduction was greatest for the sample with
the the lowest gravity and water cut.
Selected Option. Inject the full well stream from the HE-25
down the HE-26 tubing. Due to a high flowing wellhead pres-
sure in the HE-25, this could be accomplished by simply con-
necting the two wellheads together with a flowline and choke.
This option was selected for several reasons:
1. The HE-25 was capable of delivering sandstone oil at
rates as high as 6,000 STB/day. With 40 ft. TVD of the perfo-
rated interval open to flow, injection at this rate would provide
50% dilution of the producing interval over a radial distance of
180 ft. in only 12 hours.
2. Applying the emulsion viscosity effects from Figure 3
to the viscosity term in Equation 1, a production ratio versus
dilution curve (Fig. 4) was developed. This curve suggested
that achieving an emulsion dilution of 50% in the near well
region could result in a 60-fold increase in inflow rate for
12.8° API oil with a 42% water cut.
3. It was possible that the rate increase in the He-26 could
be even greater than predicted. HE-26 produced approxi-
mately 10-11° API oil at a water cut of 20%. Both the gravity
and water cut were lower than the lab sample with the largest
emulsion viscosity reduction. Therefore based on the data in
Table 1 and Figure 3, the viscosity curve would shift below
that shown for the 12.8° API oil. Also, Figure 4 assumed no
change in flowing bottomhole pressure, whereas a reduction in
the gravity of the mixture flowing up the wellbore should
lower the flowing bottomhole pressure by reducing the pres-
sure loss due to friction in the tubing (due to lower emulsion
viscosity) and by reducing the density of the column of fluid
in the wellbore. Finally, Figure 4 did not attempt to quantify
the impact of temporarily increasing the reservoir pressure in
the near wellbore region through injection.
SPE 54082 RECOVERY OF HEAVY OIL FROM THE MONTEREY FORMATION IN OFFSHORE CALIFORNIA BY CYCLIC INJECTION OF LIGHT OIL DILUENT
4. The high injection capacity of the HE-25 would provide
a high dilution rate over a short injection time, minimizing
HE-25 and HE-26 production downtime.
5. None of the alternative approaches altered in-situ oil
viscosity.
Alternative Options Considered.
1. Inject sandstone oil down the chemical injection line.
The HE-26 had a downhole chemical injection line through
which sandstone oil could be injected at a rate up to 75 gpd
with existing facilities. This injection rate would provide a
dilution of less than 2% at a Monterey oil rate of 100 STB/day
and only 0.2% at 1,000 STB/day. As shown in Figure 3, this
low dilution rate would provide no significant improvement in
emulsion viscosity. By installing a pump to increase injection
pressure from approximately 300 to 4000 psi, as much as 100
STB/day of sandstone oil could be pumped down the chemical
line providing a dilution of 10% at a Monterey rate of 1,000
STB/day.
2. Inject sandstone oil along with gas lift gas down the
tubing/casing annulus. While this method could provide
higher dilution than the chemical line, there were concerns that
the liquids would cause problems with the gas lift valves.
3. Lift the well with a downhole electric submersible pump
(ESP) and inject diluent down the chemical line. This alterna-
tive was eliminated due to the high cost of retrofitting the well
for ESP service and concern about water production at high
drawdowns, since the producing interval was very close to the
oil-water contact.
Pilot Objectives. The objectives of the pilot were limited to
the following:
1. Determine if the theoretical production rates could be
realized.
2. Gather data which could be used to develop a more de-
tailed inflow/outflow model of the process.
3. Determine the optimal combination of injection rate,
injection volume, injection time, and flowback time to maxi-
mize total oil rates and recovery.
4. Assess the long-term impact of cyclic light oil injection
on oil recovery.
Measurements. The Heritage platform has a telemetry system
which allows continuous measurement, storage, recall and
display of many platform and well parameters, including tem-
peratures, pressures, valve settings, and total flow rates. Both
the HE-25 and HE-26 have downhole helium filled pressure
chambers which are connected to surface gauges via helium
filled capillary tubes for bottomhole pressure measurements.
The surface gauges are connected to the platform telemetry
system. During all injection and flowback cycles this data was
continuously available for monitoring and analysis. During
flowback, HE-26 produced to a test separator to monitor total
emulsion rate, water cut, gas rate, and cumulative oil produc-
tion.
3
An example of data collected and analyzed during a typical
injection/flowback cycle is shown on Figure 5. A cycle de-
fined in this paper begins with light oil injection and ends with
the next injection. The top curve shows the flowing bottom
hole pressure through two cycles. The remaining curves show
the produced emulsion rate, cumulative oil volume and water
cut profile for the second flowback period.
Several key points are noted from the plots:
1. After approximately 8 hours of flow, the bottom hole
pressure decreased to the pre-injection level, the slope of the
decline curve increased, and there was a slope change seen on
the cumulative oil production curve. There was also an inflec-
tion in the water cut curve.
2. After approximately 16 hours of flow, the well began to
slug as seen by the more erratic nature of the pressure and rate
curves and another change in the slope of the cumulative oil
production curve occurred. The water cut also stabilized.
3. By the 12th hour of the cycle, cumulative oil production
equaled the diluent injection volume (1200 STB).
It is assumed that the first 8 hours of flow were affected by
mixing of injected oil with in-situ oil, and by the increased
pressure due to well shut-in and injection. These effects com-
bined to give a very high flowback rate. Between 8 and 16
hours, pressure was flat to slightly rising. Any increase in
pressure due to injection had dissipated. The slight rise may
have reflected the impact of a heavier mix of fluid in the well-
bore, as the most highly diluted oil was produced and the wa-
ter cut rose. It also may have been due to higher friction losses
in the tubing as fluid viscosity increased. Oil decline rate
during this period was very steady.
After 16 hours of flow, the combination of a lowered dilu-
tion ratio and higher water cut may have increased the viscos-
ity and density of the fluid sufficiently to precipitate slugging.
The well produced about 350 STB after this point before an-
other injection cycle was begun. Total oil produced during the
cycle was 1,900 STB, with 1,200 STB injected or a net Mon-
terey oil production of 700 STB. Roughly half of the Mon-
terey oil production was produced after slugging began.
Pilot Results
Prior to the pilot, the HE-26 produced 4,000 STB of oil and
tested 100 STB/day. It was shut-in in November, 1997 and
remained shut-in until the pilot began on March 16, 1998. A
summary of the pilot results is provided in Table 2. Monterey
oil production rate and cumulative oil production versus time
since pilot initiation are shown on Figure 6 and Figure 7.
Three events are noted on Figure 7. Gas injection on day 65
of the pilot caused a temporary production increase but no
change in cumulative recovery. Also, diluent injection was
stopped for two extended periods which is reflected in the flat
portions of the curve.
Figure 8 provides an oil rate versus cumulative oil pro-
duction plot. Through the first 9 months of the pilot, 94,000
STB of light oil diluent were injected into and 219,000 STB of
total oil were produced back from the HE-26. Assuming neg-
ligible light oil remained in the formation, 125,000 STB of
4 R. L. GARNETT, C. L. DEE
Monterey oil were produced, or an average of 451 STB/day of
Monterey oil over the life of the project. The average dilution
of the produced oil stream, in terms of barrels of light oil per
barrel of total oil, equaled 43%. Sixty-five injection cycles
were conducted. The average injection cycle lasted approxi-
mately 12 hours, and injected 1,400-1,500 STB of light oil at a
rate of approximately 2,700 STB/day. Nearly 2,000 STB of
Monterey oil was produced during the average 3.5 day flow-
back period. Monterey oil production during flowback aver-
aged 550 STB/day, and the oil gravity remained essentially
unchanged since project initiation, while the water cut in-
creased from 20 to 34%.
Figure 9 provides a comparison of an actual versus theo-
retical production ratio. The upper curve plots the emulsion
rate from flowback 2, as shown on Figure 5, divided by 100.
This calculation assumes the well would have produced 100
STB/day of emulsion at any point during the pilot if light oil
diluent had never been injected. The ratio represents the im-
provement in production rate resulting from diluent injection.
The lower curve repeats the data shown on Figure 4 for a 12.8
degree emulsion, the sample with fluid properties most similar
to the HE-26.
The shape and values of the actual and theoretical produc-
tion ratio curves are very similar. The actual ratio began at
approximately 50 and dropped to 33 after 8 hours of produc-
tion. Based on the lower plot, this equated to a predicted dilu-
tion of 43%. Between 8 and 16 hours the ratio fell to 22,
equating to a 35% dilution. This is when the HE-26 began to
slug. The ratio fell to 10 before another cycle was begun.
The 65 cycles included numerous combinations of injec-
tion rate/time/volume and flowback time in order to maximize
the Monterey production rate of each cycle. Figure 10 shows
how these parameters varied during the pilot. Figure 11 plots
these parameters versus Monterey oil rate for each cycle. No
significant correlation was found between any of the individual
parameters and production rate. However, a cycle consisting
of 12 hours of injection at a rate of 2,400 STB/day followed
by a 24-hour flow period was found to be optimal from an
operational perspective. It minimized downtime, was consis-
tent with the sustained delivery capabilities of the HE-25,
maintained the HE-26 at high flow rates/minimized slugging
tendencies, and was simple to operate and monitor. Longer
injection rates/volumes/times did not provide a noticeable im-
provement in production rate to compensate for increased
downtime. Longer flow periods increased slugging and pro-
vided no clear increase in average oil production over the cy-
cle.
Table 3 provides a range of drainage estimates for the HE-
26 using sample fracture and fluid parameters. Using these
parameters and the probable producing height, this well has
drained an equivalent of 80 acres. As seen on Figure 6, the
production from this well has leveled off at about 600
STB/day, and it will drain additional volume before depletion.
SPE 54082
Conclusions
1. Cyclic injection of light oil diluent increased the pro-
duction rate from a low gravity Monterey oil well from an av-
erage of 100 STB/day to peak rates of over 5000 STB/day.
Rates above 1000 STB/day were maintained for several hours
after the injected diluent volume had been recovered. The
observed productivity increase was consistent with viscosity
reductions predicted by laboratory studies and simple inflow
calculations.
2. This phase of the pilot provided data which can be used
to develop and history match a detailed inflow/outfow model
of the process.
3. An injection/producing strategy was developed which
was simple to apply and was consistent with the operating ca-
pabilities of the platform.
4. Cyclic injection resulted in the effective drainage of a
large reservoir volume in a short period of time. Approxi-
mately 125,000 STB of oil were recovered in the first 9
months of the pilot.
Nomenclature
°API = oil API gravity, degrees
Bo = oil formation volume factor, RB/STB
Er = total recovery efficiency, fraction
FBHP = flowing bottomhole pressure, psig
h = reservoir thickness, ft.
k = permability, darcy
N = oil in place, STB
φ = porosity, fraction
Pe = pressure at the drainage boundary, psi
Pw = pressure at the wellbore, psi
q = oil rate, STB/day
R = total oil recovery, STB
re = drainage radius, ft.
rw = wellbore radius
So = oil saturation, fraction.
TVD = true vertical depth, ft.
µo = oil viscosity, cp
wcut = water cut, %
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank J. Brewer, A.F. Avalos, G.C.
Manuel, B.W. Kimberly, and P. J. Jaramillo for their patience
and efforts in implementing this project. Also, S.D. Combe,
J.E. Lozano, and G.A. White for assistance in data prepara-
tion. Finally, we thank the management of Exxon Company,
U.S.A. for allowing the release of this study.
SPE 54082 RECOVERY OF HEAVY OIL FROM THE MONTEREY FORMATION IN OFFSHORE CALIFORNIA BY CYCLIC INJECTION OF LIGHT OIL DILUENT 5

LABORATORY DATA: LIGHT OIL DILUTION STUDY

TABLE 1
Heritage Wells
HE-5 HE-7 HE-18 HE-25

Oil Gravity - Dry @ 60° F (° API) 12.8 14.1 16.3 34.2

Water Cut - As Received @ 60° F (%) 42.0 66.0 56.0 0.9

Emulsion Viscosity - As Received (cp)

@ 100° F 19370 3130 874 2.9
@ 130° F 10870 1550 511 1.3
@ 160° F 6350 1260 307 0.8

Base Emulsion Viscosity @ 130° F (cp)

HE-25 diluent added (%by volume)

1% 9490 1490 469
3% 7320 1340 367
5% 5250 1230 295
10% 1970 990 189
20% 1150 560 123
30% 703 303 75
40% 406 174 42
50% 181 79 29

SUMMARY OF PILOT RESULTS

TABLE 2
MARCH TO DECEMBER, 1998
Total Project Data
• Project length (days) 277
• Light oil injected (STB) 94,000
• Total oil produced (STB) 219,000
• Net Monterey oil produced (STB) 125,000
• Net Monterey oil produced per project day (STB/day) 451
STB Light Oil
• Average dilution of produced stream ( ) 43%
STB Total

Cycle Data
• Number of injection cycles 65
• Average cycle profile:
Light Oil Injection Monterey Oil Flowback
- Duration (days) 0.54 3.5
- Volume (STB) 1446 1923
- Rate (STB/day) 2677 550

Monterey Fluid Characteristics (1)

Pre-pilot 12/98
• Average gravity (° API) 11.4 11.8
• Average water cut (%) 20.0 34.0

(1) Estimate of in-situ characteristics. December, 1998, measurement taken after continuous production and no light oil injection for 30 days.
6 R. L. GARNETT, C. L. DEE SPE 54082

DRAINAGE ESTIMATE FOR HE-26

TABLE 3
Equation: R = Er⋅ N
7758 Ah φ So
R = Er⋅
Bo

Assumptions: R = 125,000
Er = 0.6
φ = 0.01
So = 1.0
Bo = 1.2

Results: Drainage Height - h (ft.) Drainage Area - A (acres)

10 322
20 161
30 107
40 80

300
RESERVOIR TEMPERATURE (° F)

250

200

150

100

50

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000
Depth (ft subsea)

Fig.1- Offshore California geothermal gradient.

100000
LIVE OIL VISCOSITY (cp)

10 ° API
10000 13 ° API
15 ° API
1000
20 °API

100

10

1
0 50 100 150 200
Temperature (° F)

Fig. 2- Viscosity estimates for Monterey oil as a function of temperature and API Gravity.
SPE 54082 RECOVERY OF HEAVY OIL FROM THE MONTEREY FORMATION IN OFFSHORE CALIFORNIA BY CYCLIC INJECTION OF LIGHT OIL DILUENT 7

1.00

12.8 ° API, 42% Wcut

14.1 ° API, 66% Wcut
VISCOSITY RATIO

16.3 ° API, 56% Wcut

0.10

0.01
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Light oil dilution (volume %)

Fig. 3- Ratio of emulsion viscosity of diluted oil to undiluted Monterey oil. Three samples with different API
gravites and watercuts.

100
PRODUCTION RATIO

10

12.8 ° API, 42% Wcut

14.1 ° API, 66% Wcut
16.3 ° API, 56% Wcut
1
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Light oil dilution (volume %)

Fig. 4- Ratio of production predicted at various dilution ratios to base case production from HE-26. Uses 100
STB/day as base production. Applies Equation 1 with all other parameters except viscosity held constant.
SPE 54082 RECOVERY OF HEAVY OIL FROM THE MONTEREY FORMATION IN OFFSHORE CALIFORNIA BY CYCLIC INJECTION OF LIGHT OIL DILUENT 8

2400

2200 Injection 2
FBHP (PSIG)

2000
Injected diluent volume produced
8 hours
1800 16 hours
1600
Flowback 1 Flowback 2
1400
-15 -12 -9 -6 -3 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30
EMULSION RATE (STB/DAY)

5000
Injected diluent volume produced
4000
16 hours
3000

2000
8 hours
1000

0
-15 -12 -9 -6 -3 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30
CUMULATIVE OIL (STB)

2500
2000
1500
8 hours
1000
16 hours
500
Injected diluent volume produced
0
-15 -12 -9 -6 -3 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30

35
8 hours
WCUT (%)

25
16 hours
Injected diluent volume produced
15

5
-15 -12 -9 -6 -3 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30

Time Elapsed Since Beginning of Flowback 2 (Hours)

Fig. 5 - HE-26. Data collected during a typical injection / flowback cycle.

SPE 54082 RECOVERY OF HEAVY OIL FROM THE MONTEREY FORMATION IN OFFSHORE CALIFORNIA BY CYCLIC INJECTION OF LIGHT OIL DILUENT 9

1800
NET OIL RATE (STB/DAY)

1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300

Days Since Pilot Initiation

Fig. 6- HE-26. Monterey oil production rate versus time since pilot initiation. Excludes injected sandstone oil.

140000
PRODUCTION (STB)
CUMULATIVE OIL

120000 Gas Injected

100000
80000
60000 No diluent
40000 injected
20000
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Days Since Pilot Initiation

Fig. 7- HE-26. Cumulative Monterey oil production since pilot initiation. Each point represents the end of a cycle.
Excludes injected sandstone oil.

1800
NET OIL RATE (STB/DAY)

1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000 140000

Cumulative Oil Production (STB)

Fig 8- HE-26. Oil production rate from the Monterey versus cumulative Monterey oil production. Excludes
injected sandstone oil.
SPE 54082 RECOVERY OF HEAVY OIL FROM THE MONTEREY FORMATION IN OFFSHORE CALIFORNIA BY CYCLIC INJECTION OF LIGHT OIL DILUENT 10

60
ACTUAL PRODUCTION RATIO

50

Injected diluent volume produced

40

16 Hours
30

20 8 Hours

10

0
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24

Time Elapsed since beginning of Flowback (Hours)

60
THEORETICAL PRODCTION RATIO

50

40

30

20

10
Average diluent ratio for pilot (43%)
0
50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Light Oil Dilution (Volume %)

Fig. 9- HE-26. Comparison of actual to theoretical production ratio. Actual ratio divides the emulsion rate from
flowback cycle 2 on fig. 5 by 100 STB/D. Theoretical ratio uses the 12.8 degree API curve from Fig. 4.
SPE 54082 RECOVERY OF HEAVY OIL FROM THE MONTEREY FORMATION IN OFFSHORE CALIFORNIA BY CYCLIC INJECTION OF LIGHT OIL DILUENT 11
INJECTION DURATION (DAYS)

1.60

INJECTION DURATION (DAYS)

1.60
1.40
1.40
1.20
1.20
1.00
1.00
0.80
0.80
0.60
0.60
0.40
0.40
0.20
0.20
0.00
0.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300

7000 7000
INJECTION RATE (STB/DAY)

INJECTION RATE (STB/DAY)

6000 6000
5000 5000
4000 4000
3000 3000
2000 2000

1000 1000

0 0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 0 500 1000 1500 2000

3500 3500
INJECTION VOLUME (STB)
INJECTI0N VOLUME (STB)

3000 3000
2500 2500
2000 2000

1500 1500

1000 1000

500 500
0
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300

16 16
FLOWBACK DURATION (DAYS)
FLOWBACK DURATION (DAYS)

14 14
12
12
10
10
8
8
6
6
4
4
2
2
0
0 0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
NET OIL RATE (STB/DAY)
DAYS SINCE PROJECT INITIATION

Fig. 10 - HE-26. Cycle parameters verses time since Fig. 11 - HE-26. Net Monterey oil production rate for
pilot initiation. each cycle versus cycle parameters.