SCREENING OF OILS FOR IN-SITU COMBUSTION AT RESERVOIR CONDITIONS BY ACCELERATING-RATE CALORIMETRY

This paper introduces a new method to screen crude oils for applicatib ility of the air-injection/in-situ combustion process. Testing is perf ormed at reservoir conditions, up to 41.4 MPa, with a specially modifi ed accelerating-rate calorimeter (ARC(TM)). ARC results are shown for four medium- and high-gravity oils, combustion-tube data is presented, and air-injection field data are discussed and compared. We interpret that the continuity of the ARC trace ties in kinetics, combustion-tub e, and field air-injection results. Thus, a method is available to del imit the envelope of applicability of air-injection/in-situ combustion to those oil reservoirs where the probability of technical and econom ic success is greatest.