Case Study: Saturated Steam Cor-Vor Meter at Oil Pad Injection Site
Application: Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) via Saturated Steam Injection
Technology Used: Tek-Flo Mass 1300D Steam Quality Meter with ‘Prognosis’ Diagnostics
Overview
An oil field operator engaged in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) through saturated steam injection sought to improve control over the steam quality being injected into the reservoir. Since optimal hydrocarbon production depends on maintaining precise steam quality, the operator evaluated the performance of a VorCone (Cor-Vor) meter to monitor and trend real-time steam quality more effectively than traditional estimation methods.
Fig 1. 3" Saturated Steam Cor-Vor Meter System
Fig 2. Saturated Steam Separator
Background
Traditional approaches to estimating saturated steam quality in field applications often rely on manual valve setting adjustments and operator judgment, which can lead to significant inaccuracies. To address this challenge, a 3-inch Cor-Vor meter equipped with the diagnostic suite ‘Prognosis’ was installed at the injection point, as shown in Figure 1. In parallel, a portable reference separator system was deployed for
validation, depicted in Figure 2.
Testing Procedure
Field operators systematically varied valve settings to induce observable changes in steam quality. The objective was to compare:
- Operator-estimated steam quality (based on valve settings)
- VorCone meter readings
- Reference separator system results
Results
The VorCone meter demonstrated a significantly improved accuracy in tracking real-time steam quality changes compared to operator estimates. Figure 3 illustrates the close correlation between the VorCone meter and the reference separator system.
Fig 3. Cor-Vor Meter vs. Reference Steam Quality.
For example:
- Operators estimated the steam quality to be ~60%
- VorCone meter recorded it as 42%
- Reference separator system measured 39.5%
This clear discrepancy underscores the limitations of traditional estimation methods and highlights the precision of the VorCone technology.
Diagnostics and Redundancy
The Cor-Vor meter is equipped with the ‘Prognosis’ diagnostic suite, capable of independently monitoring changes in steam quality. As demonstrated in Figure 4, the system reliably trended quality changes throughout the test. Notably, the 1300D Cor-Vor meter features a dual physical principle approach, offering rare redundancy in steam quality trending—a valuable attribute in critical injection processes.
Figure 4. 3” Cor-Vor Meter ‘Prognosis’Diagnostic Suite Reaction to Changing Steam Quality.
Conclusion
This field trial validated that the Cor-Vor meter, complemented by its Prognosis diagnostic suite, provides a highly reliable and accurate method of measuring saturated steam quality at oil pad injection sites. The meter significantly outperforms traditional estimation techniques, offering operators a robust solution for optimizing EOR steam injection performance.
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