Abstract: The disclosed invention is an apparatus for analyzing the annulus effluent of a producing well. The apparatus is designed to measure the flow rate of the annulus effluent, sample the annulus effluent and determine the quantities of each of the various phases of the annulus effluent. The apparatus is preferably mounted on a mobile vehicle and comprises a means for measuring the flow rate of the annulus effluent, a liquid vapor separator to split the annulus effluent into streams of entrained liquid and vapor, a separator to split the entrained liquid into the phases of oil and water, a sampling loop for extracting a sample of annulus effluent vapor which contains a condensor and a separator for splitting the fluid into its various phases, a means for measuring the amounts of all of the phases of the annulus effluent, and a means to record the data gathered. The apparatus is very useful in determining whether a producing well should be shut-in, worked over or left to produce "as is".

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a method for analyzing the annulus effluent of a producing well in a steam flood and using the information derived therefrom to determine whether to workover the production well for greater production, whether to allow the well to continue producing "as is", or whether to shut-in the annulus or the tubing production and approximately when the well should be worked over or shut-in.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering hydrocarbons by a series of steps wherein about 0.1 to about 0.6 pore volumes of steam of a relatively high quality is initially injected into the formation. Thereafter, an additional 0.1 to about 0.6 pore volumes of steam is injected wherein the quality of the steam is gradually decreased to a relatively low quality. The injection sequence is concluded with about 0.5 to about 2.0 pore volumes of water, preferably at an ambient temperature.