Method of improved oil recovery by simultaneous injection of steam and water

A method for recovering heavy oil from a subterranean permeable, heavy oil-containing formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one spaced apart production well, said injection well containing at least two separate flow paths, the first path in fluid communication with the upper portion of the formation and the second path in fluid communication with the lower portion of the formation, and said production well in fluid communication with the lower portion of the formation, comprising:

• a. injecting steam into the lower portion of the formation via the second flow path of the injection well, said steam passing through the formation, displacing oil and reducing the oil's viscosity;
• b. injecting unheated water into the upper portion of the formation via the first flow path of the injection well subsequent to the period of steam injection into the lower portion of the formation and prior to steam breakthrough to impede the upward flow of steam and divert it to previously unswept paths resulting in a higher vertical sweep efficiency to scavenge heat from the steam and become a hot water drive displacing oil reduced in viscosity from lower regions in the formation;
• and
• c. recovering oil from the lower portion of the formation via said production well.