부산대학교 도서관

It is feasible to switch from in-situ combustion to water injection as a recovery process for viscous crude oil. By combining a combustion drive with waterflooding, economics of operation are possible. Cost of air is one of the limiting factors in pattern design and application of combustion drives. Also, emulsions, corrosion, and high temperature failures are potential problems in producing wells in the combustion pattern. Switching to a waterflood would substitute the costs of water injection for those of air injection and associated producing well problems. In making the switch from air to water injection, some additional equipment may be needed. This may be in addition to or may eliminate some of the equipment necessary for a combustion drive alone. Results of tests described here indicate that while the switch from air to water offers operational advantages, overall recoveries would be less. Therefore, an economic balance can be made to determine when the switch from air to water injection should be made.