Introduction
Steam distillation, the process of separating light fractions
from the crude oil by forcing steam into a reservoir, is a wellknown
mechanism in steam injection enhanced oil recovery
processes. Steam injection makes lighter fractions of hydrocarbons
to be distilled at temperatures lower than their boiling
points. Steam and vaporized hydrocarbons will be condensed
as they reach cooler regions. Since steam is injected continuously
in this process, the condensation and vaporization
mechanisms are repeated during the process (Fig. 1).
Enhanced oil recovery processes based on steam injection
are of the most popular and effective methods used widely
in oil recovery industries. Oil displacement in these processes
involves simultaneous heat, mass, and fluid transport. Several
investigations have been performed to evaluate the contribution
of different mechanisms to oil recovery in these methods.
Viscosity reduction plays a key role in increasing the oil recovery
during thermal processes including steamflood technique
(Prats, 1986; Farouq Ali, 2003; Nabipour et al., 2007). However,
steamflood method differs markedly in performance from
Introduction
Steam distillation, the process of separating light fractions
from the crude oil by forcing steam into a reservoir, is a wellknown
mechanism in steam injection enhanced oil recovery
processes. Steam injection makes lighter fractions of hydrocarbons
to be distilled at temperatures lower than their boiling
points. Steam and vaporized hydrocarbons will be condensed
as they reach cooler regions. Since steam is injected continuously
in this process, the condensation and vaporization
mechanisms are repeated during the process (Fig. 1).
Enhanced oil recovery processes based on steam injection
are of the most popular and effective methods used widely
in oil recovery industries. Oil displacement in these processes
involves simultaneous heat, mass, and fluid transport. Several
investigations have been performed to evaluate the contribution
of different mechanisms to oil recovery in these methods.
Viscosity reduction plays a key role in increasing the oil recovery
during thermal processes including steamflood technique
(Prats, 1986; Farouq Ali, 2003; Nabipour et al., 2007). However,
steamflood method differs markedly in performance from
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