This paper describes a single well pilot in which light oil diluent 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 validated laboratory data which suggested that large production rate increases could result from high rate diluent injection.

Keywords:
production monitoring, production control, reservoir surveillance, oil gravity, fluid dynamics, emulsion viscosity, drillstem testing, monterey oil, production rate, spe 54082
Subjects:
Well & Reservoir Surveillance and Monitoring, Fluid Characterization, Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Formation Evaluation & Management, Phase behavior and PVT measurements, Flow in porous media, Drillstem/well testing, Completion Installation and Operations, Well Intervention
Copyright 1999, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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