Labyrinth Packer Lowers the Costs for Steam Injection Wells: Theoretical and Experimental Results Available to Purchase

This paper describes a low-cost completion technique that uses conventional tubing and replaces the expensive thermal packer with a new low-cost design. The new design allows free tubing expansion and protects casing through continuous gas circulation in the annulus. It also makes possible simultaneous injection of combustion gases from steam generators, when conventional systems are used, or small amounts of nitrogen, when the generators are not available.