Release:
2026. Vol. 12. № 1 (45)About the authors:
Kirill S. Menzhinskii, Post-graduate student, Department of Physical Processes and Systems Modeling, University of Tyumen, Tyumen, Russia; KMeznhinsky@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0374-561XAbstract:
In this study, a comprehensive analysis is carried out of cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) as a flexible thermal enhanced oil recovery method for high-viscosity oil reservoirs. The aim is to provide an integrated assessment of CSS based on a synthesis of domestic and international research and comparison with alternative thermal technologies. Using 40 published studies, enhanced oil recovery methods are systematized: for each approach the performance, key advantages and limitations are summarized, and domains of rational applicability are outlined with regard to reservoir conditions and fluid properties. Integral and integrated thermo-hydrodynamic models of reservoir heating and multiphase flow are reviewed, as well as their role in selecting rational injection–soak–production schedules. It is shown that hybrid CSS schemes with solvents, foam, nanoparticles and catalysts can increase oil recovery by 20–40% while reducing specific energy consumption. The work develops a methodological framework for selecting thermal technologies and optimizing CSS cycle parameters.Keywords:
References:
Regaieg, M., Abid, S., & Allouche, M. (2017). Finger thickening during extra-heavy oil waterflooding. Energy & Fuels, 31(1), 144–155.
Zaki, M. Z. M., Musa, T. A., & Elbaloula, H. A. A. (2018). Cyclic steam stimulation designing for two horizontal wells in Sudanese oil field: Case study FNE oil field (Master’s thesis). Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum.
Elbaloula, H. A. A., & Musa, T. A. (2018). Investigation on the benefits of steam adsorption and distribution during cyclic steam injection to improve oil recovery: FNE case study, Sudan. Journal of Petroleum Engineering & Technology, 8(3), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.37591/jopet.v8i3.1314
Suranto, A. M., Putradianto, R. R., Al Asy’ari, M. R., & Lukmana, A. H. (2022). An investigation of novel cyclic steam–solvent stimulation using a horizontal well to escalate heavy oil production. Journal of Earth Energy Engineering, 11(2), 60–68. https://doi.org/10.25299/jeee.2022.8130
Osma, L., García, L., Pérez, R., Barbosa, C., Botett, J., Sandoval, J., & Manrique, E. (2019). Benefit–cost and energy efficiency index to support the screening of hybrid cyclic steam stimulation methods. Energies, 12(24), 4631. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12244631
Suranto, A. M., Pramudiohadi, E. W., & Risky, A. N. (2021). Optimization of cyclic steam stimulation process using response surface methodology. Journal of Petroleum and Geothermal Technology, 2(1), 26–31.
Khaitov, O. G., Akramov, B. Sh., & Nuritdinov, Zh. F. (2020). Innovatsionnye metody povysheniya nefteotdachi plastov [Innovative methods for improving oil recovery]. Evraziiskii Soyuz Uchenykh, 1(70), 15–20. (In Russian).
Abdalraheem, M., et al. (2022). The effects of combination of steam flooding, CO₂ and cyclic steam stimulation injection pilot test in a heavy oilfield in Sudan. Scientific Contributions Oil and Gas.
Gilmanov, A. Ya., Kovalchuk, T. N., & Shevelev, A. P. (2023). Opredelenie osnovnykh tekhnologicheskikh parametrov parotsiklicheskogo vozdeistviya na plast s uchetom teplovykh poter’ po stvolu skvazhiny [Determination of key technological parameters of cyclic steam stimulation considering heat losses along wellbore]. Vychislitel’naya Mekhanika Sploshnykh Sred [Computational Continuum Mechanics], 16(4), 407–419. (In Russian).
Swadesi, B., Suranto, A. M., Widiyaningsih, I., & Jani, M. (2020). Optimization study of integrated scenarios on cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) using CMG STARS simulator. Journal of Petroleum and Geothermal Technology, 1(1), 8–14.
He, C., Xu, A., Fan, Z., Zhao, L., Shan, F., & Bo, B. (2019). An integrated model for productivity prediction of cyclic steam stimulation with horizontal well. Energy Science & Engineering, 7, 962–973. https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.325
Krivoshchekov, S., Kochnev, A., & Vyatkin, K. (2022). The development of forecasting technique for cyclic steam stimulation technology effectiveness in near-wellbore area. Fluids, 7(2), 64. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids7020064
Gilmanov, A. Ya., et al. (2023). Influence of the thermophysical properties of the reservoir and fluid on the technological parameters of CSS. Journal of Engineering Physics and Thermophysics, 96(5), 1311–1320.
Ruiz-Cañas, M. C., García Duarte, H. A., & Patiño Ramirez, C. D. (2024). Innovative simulation methodology for hybrid technology with solvent-enhanced nanocatalysts (HYB-SEN) as an alternative for improving environmental indicators in cyclic steam stimulation. CT&F – Ciencia, Tecnología y Futuro, 14(2), 67–78. https://doi.org/10.29047/01225383.1404
Gilmanov, A. Ya., Kovalchuk, T. N., & Shevelev, A. P. (2020). Matematicheskoe modelirovanie, chislennye metody i kompleksy programm: Informatsionnye tekhnologii [Mathematical modeling, numerical methods and software complexes: Information technologies]. Vestnik Tyumenskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta, 6(1), 176–191. (In Russian).
García-Duarte, H. A., Ruiz-Cañas, M. C., Quintero, H., Medina, O. E., Lopera, S. H., Cortés, F. B., & Franco, C. A. (2024). Development of nanofluid-based solvent as a hybrid technology for in-situ heavy oil upgrading during cyclic steam stimulation applications. ACS Omega, 9, 40511–40521. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c03517
Vakhin, A. V., Mukhamatdinov, I. I., Aliev, F. A., Feoktistov, D. F., Sitnov, S. A., Gafurov, M. R., Minkhanov, I. F., Varfolomeev, M. A., Nurgaliev, D. K., Simakov, I. O., Latypov, A. A., Petrashov, O. V., Solovev, A. V., & Sansiev, G. V. (2021, October 12–15). Industrial application of nickel tallate catalyst during cyclic steam stimulation in Boca de Jaruco reservoir. In SPE Russian Petroleum Technology Conference (Paper SPE-206419-RU).
Xu, Y., Zhang, Z., & Zhou, Y. (2023). A brief review of steam flooding and its applications in fractured oil shale reservoirs. Frontiers in Earth Science, 11, 1268103. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1268103
Zhang, W., Liu, Y., Zou, J., Wang, Q., Wang, Z., Zhao, Y., & Sun, X. (2025). Comprehensive experimental study of steam flooding for offshore heavy oil recovery after water flooding. Energies, 18, 3140. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18123140
Okoro, E. E., Onyekonwu, M., & Ajienka, J. (2021). Recovery of Nigerian heavy oil: Application of steam flooding. Journal of Energy Research and Reviews, 8(4), 21–38. https://doi.org/10.9734/JENRR/2021/v8i430218
Odo, J. E., Mmadu, C. D., & Nwanwe, O. I. (2024). A novel approach to steam flooding economic analysis. Improved Oil and Gas Recovery. https://doi.org/10.14800/IOGR.1323
Prosper, D. (2025, August). Sustainability and environmental impact assessment of large-scale steam flooding projects. Preprint. ResearchGate.
Antolinez, J. D., Miri, R., & Nouri, A. (2023). In situ combustion: A comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge. Energies, 16, 6306. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16176306
Liu, Z., Wang, B., Yang, S., & Tian, C. (2025). Advances and factors influencing in situ combustion effectiveness: A review. Processes, 13, 130. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13010130
Minakov, A. V., Meshkova, V. D., Guzey, D. V., & Pryazhnikov, M. I. (2023). Recent advances in the study of in situ combustion for enhanced oil recovery. Energies, 16, 4266. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16114266
Nguyen-Le, V., Kim, N., & Shin, H. (2024). Optimization of the operating strategy for the ES-SAGD process in different oil sands reservoir quality. In GeoConvention 2024: Extended Abstracts (Paper ID 104127). Calgary.
Nguyen-Le, V., Yuan, W., Chen, Z., Kim, N., & Shin, H. (2025). Prediction of field-scale SAGD performance based on vertical well log data. In GeoConvention 2025: Extended Abstracts (Paper ID 114880). Calgary.
Yang, S., Yan, Y, Dang, N., Mou, Y., Jia, D., & Zhao, R. (2025). Dynamic characteristics of high-displacement rod pumping systems in SAGD oil wells. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 15, 169.
Zhou, Y., Huang, S., Yang, S., Jiang, Q., Wang, Z., Wang, H., Yue, L., & Ma, T. (2025). Optimizing solvent-assisted SAGD in deep extra-heavy oil reservoirs: Mechanistic insights and a case study in Liaohe. Energies, 18(14), 3599.
He, W., Zhang, J., Luo, C., Guo, H., Wang, Z., & Li, B. (2024). Research on heat distribution and heat efficiency improvement in the middle and late stages of SAGD. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2823, 012023.
Dong, L., Zhao, F., & Zhang, H. (2023). Experimental study on enhanced oil recovery effect of profile control system–assisted steam flooding. Polymers, 15(23), 18 pp.
Orekhova, L. G. (2022). Povyshenie effektivnosti razrabotki zalezhei vysokovyazkoi nefti zavodneniem goryachei vodoi: Na primere Novo–Elkhovskogo neftyannogo mestorozhdeniya [Improving the efficiency of high-viscosity oil reservoir development by hot-water flooding: A case study of the Novo–Elkhovskoe oil field]. Neftyanaya Provintsiya, 4(32), 196–207. (In Russian).
Chai, M., Yang, M., & Chen, Z. (2021). Analytical and numerical study of thermal and solvent-based gravity drainage for heavy oil recovery. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 208(B), 15 pp.
Gomes, A. Sh., Mashkaenyash, G. A., Shchebra, V. A., & Vorobyev, K. A. (2021). Primenenie metoda parogravitatsionnogo drenazha (PGD) na mestorozhdeniyakh vysokovyazkoi nefti [Application of SAGD method in high-viscosity oil fields]. Vestnik Evraziiskoi Nauki, 13(3), 1–12. (In Russian).
Goswami, A., Sahoo, S., & Mandal, A. (2021). In-situ combustion: A state-of-the-art review on process mechanisms, field applications and challenges. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 205, 108911. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.108911
Zhao, F., Liu, H., Li, S., Zhang, L., & Zhang, J. (2020). Experimental and numerical investigation of in-situ combustion for enhanced oil recovery in heavy oil reservoirs. Fuel, 281, 118739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.118739
Mukhametdinov, M. M. (2024). Tekhnicheskaya otsenka vozmozhnosti dobychi tyazheloi nefti teplovymi metodami [Technical assessment of the possibility of heavy oil production by thermal methods]. Vestnik Nauki, 2(6), 1842–1852. (In Russian).
Fan, T., Xie, K., Shi, Y., Li, Y., Song, J., Zhu, W., & Chen, Z. (2022). A production performance model of the cyclic steam stimulation process in multilayer heavy oil reservoirs. Energies, 15(5), 1757. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15051757
Xie, K., Fan, T., Li, Y., & Chen, Z. (2022). Evaluation of steam channeling severity between cyclic steam stimulation wells using numerical simulation. Energies, 15(10), 3505. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15103505
Gilmanov, Yu. A., Arazov, A. R., & Shevelyov, A. P. (2022). Influence of convective processes on technological parameters of cyclic steam stimulation of oil reservoirs. Journal of Engineering Physics and Thermophysics, 95(5), 1172–1179.
