How does steam flooding move heavy oil toward production wells?

Steam flooding is a thermal recovery technique used to extract heavy crude oils that are too viscous to flow under normal conditions. The process functions as a displacement method, similar to waterflooding, by utilizing steam to both heat and transport the oil.1

When steam is pumped into injection wells, it serves two primary roles:
* Heating: The heat from the steam significantly reduces the viscosity of the heavy oil, allowing it to move more easily through the rock formation.21
* Transporting: The steam acts as a driving force, displacing the heated oil and pushing it toward production wells.1

To maintain efficiency, some steam must circulate through the formation without condensing to ensure continuous heating and movement. In some operations, water is injected at an optimal time to further assist in pushing the steam and oil toward the production wells. Because this process requires significant energy, it is often necessary to consume a portion of the produced oil to generate the required steam.1