Steam injection profiling

Abstract

An improved method and apparatus for determining injection profiles in a steam injection well is disclosed. The mass flow rate of steam entering the well is measured. A well logging tool is then used to measure temperature and/or pressure profiles within the perforated zone of the well. A liquid phase tracer is then injected for a short time into the well with the steam. The well logging tool contains dual gamma ray detectors and is used to measure the transit time of the tracer slug. In the preferred embodiment, the liquid tracer is radioactive elemental iodine or sodium iodide. The procedure is repeated with a vapor phase tracer which is radioactive Krypton, Argon, or Xenon in the preferred embodiment. A vapor and liquid profile can then be calculated with simple mass balance equations. In a second approach, a spinner survey and a single tracer survey are conducted. By combining the spinner and tracer survey results, vapor and liquid rates can be determined and steam injection profiles can be calculated.