Steam distribution and production of hydrocarbons in a horizontal well

Abstract

A system for enhancing steam distribution in a thermal stimulation phase, and for reducing the production of particulate matter with hydrocarbon fluids in a production phase, has a base pipe with a limited number of spaced-apart holes. The spaced-apart holes are sized and located so that steam is uniformly distributed in the reservoir. A collar is disposed around each hole to deflect the steam into an annulus between the base pipe and a wire-wrap screen section to avoid erosion and deterioration of the wire-wrap screen, which is required in the production phase. Mobilized hydrocarbon fluids flow to the wire-wrap screen section, which acts to filter particulate matter so that the production of particulate matter with hydrocarbon fluid is limited. The open area in the base pipe is significantly reduced, as compared with conventional methods, so that at the design injection rates, the pressure drop through the spaced-apart holes is larger than the pressure drop along the base pipe. During hydrocarbon fluid production, the pressure drop from the reservoir to the spaced-apart holes is low due to the presence of the wire-wrap screens. The open area in the base pipe while significantly reduced at the design production rates, as compared with conventional methods, should not unduly limit production rates.