Theoretical studies on the gravity drainage of heavy oil during in‐situ steam heating

Abstract One concept for the in‐situ production of oil from the tar sands involves the continuous injection of steam into a growing steam‐saturated volume or steam chamber. Steam flow to the boundary of the chamber, condenses and gives up its heat to the surrounding oil sands. The condensate and heated oil flow by gravity to a production well located at the bottom of a chamber and are removed continuously. The well may consist of a horizontal slotted pipe. This paper describes the theory of operation of such a process and an equation is derived which predicts the rate of drainage.