Heavy Oil Recovery Using In Situ Steam Generated by Thermochemicals: A Numerical Simulation Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamer Moussa ◽  
Mohamed Mahmoud ◽  
Esmail M. A. Mokheimer ◽  
Dhafer Al-Shehri ◽  
Shirish Patil
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Steam Injection ◽  
Heat Losses ◽  
Oil Reservoir ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Commercial Development ◽  
Heavy Oil Reservoir

This paper introduces a novel approach to generate downhole steam using thermochemical reactions to overcome the challenges associated with heavy oil resources. The procedure developed in this paper is applied to a heavy oil reservoir, which contains heavy oil (12–23 API) with an estimated range of original oil in place (OOIP) of 13–25 billion barrels while its several technical challenges are limiting its commercial development. One of these challenges is the overlying 1800–2000-ft thick permafrost layer, which causes significant heat losses when steam is injected from the surface facilities. The objective of this research is to conduct a feasibility study on the application of the new approach in which the steam is generated downhole using the thermochemical reaction (SGT) combined with steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) to recover heavy oil from the reservoir. A numerical simulation model for a heavy oil reservoir is built using a CMG-STARS simulator, which is then integrated with a matlab framework to study different recovery strategies on the project profitability. The design and operational parameters studied and optimized in this paper involve (1) well configurations and locations and (2) steam injection rate and quality as well as a steam trap in SAGD wells. The results show that the in situ SGT is a successful approach to recover heavy oil from the reservoir, and it yields high-project profitability. The main reason for this outperformance is the ability of SGT to avoid the significant heat losses and associated costs associated with the surface steam injection.

ISC Application in Heavy Oil Reservoir after CSS

2014 ◽  
Vol 962-965 ◽  
pp. 443-447
Author(s):  
Hong Jun Sun ◽  
Shi Qing Hu ◽  
Pei Wu Li
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Thermal Efficiency ◽  
Steam Injection ◽  
Oil Reservoir ◽  
Complex Fault ◽  
Deep Reservoir ◽  
Heavy Oil Reservoir ◽  
And Performance

In order to improve the flowability of crude oil, heavy oil reservoir usually developed by steam injection. While this process produces a lot of greenhouse gases. To deep reservoir, heat loss in the wellbore tends to more severe and thermal efficiency is lower. In-situ Combustion (ISC) is featured by heavy components’ combustion, high thermal efficiency and high oil recovery. Those advantages are outstanding especially in the aspects of improving thermal efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This paper researched on ISC EOR process in a complex fault block, including reservoir design and performance evaluation. Remarkable development results have been achieved, which shows the potential for ISC technology and this paper provides a reference for the development of similar reservoirs.

Experimental Research on Hot Water Flooding of Different Rhythm Heavy Oil Reservoir after the Steam Injection

2012 ◽  
Vol 550-553 ◽  
pp. 2878-2882 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Yuan Gai ◽  
Fang Hao Yin ◽  
Ting Ting Hao ◽  
Zhong Ping Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Physical Simulation ◽  
Steam Injection ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Water Flooding ◽  
Oil Reservoir ◽  
Steam Flooding ◽  
Heavy Oil Reservoir ◽  
Swept Volume

Based on the issue of enhancing oil recovery of heavy oil reservoir after steam injection, this paper studied the development characteristics of hot water flooding in different rhythm (positive rhythm, anti-rhythm, complex rhythm) reservoir after steam drive by means of physical simulation. The research shows that the positive rhythm reservoir has a large swept volume with steam flooding under the influence of steam overlay and steam channeling. Anti-rhythm reservoir has a large swept volume with hot water flooding, because hot water firstly flows along the high permeability region in upper part of the reservoir, in the process of displacement, hot water migrates to the bottom of reservoir successively for its higher density.

Well-Placement Optimization in Heavy Oil Reservoirs Using a Novel Method of In Situ Steam Generation

2018 ◽  
Vol 141 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamer Moussa ◽  
Mohamed Mahmoud ◽  
Esmail M. A. Mokheimer ◽  
Mohamed A. Habib ◽  
Salaheldin Elkatatny
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Steam Injection ◽  
Optimization Techniques ◽  
Oil Reservoir ◽  
Steam Generation ◽  
Oil Viscosity ◽  
Heavy Oil Reservoir

Determination of optimal well locations plays an important role in the efficient recovery of hydrocarbon resources. However, it is a challenging and complex task. The objective of this paper is to determine the optimal well locations in a heavy oil reservoir under production using a novel recovery process in which steam is generated, in situ, using thermochemical reactions. Self-adaptive differential evolution (SaDE) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) methods are used as the global optimizer to find the optimal configuration of wells that will yield the highest net present value (NPV). This is the first known application, where SaDE and PSO methods are used to optimize well locations in a heavy oil reservoir that is recovered by injecting steam generated in situ using thermo-chemical reactions. Comparison analysis between the two proposed optimization techniques is introduced. On the other hand, laboratory experiments were performed to confirm the heavy oil production by thermochemical means. CMG STARS simulator is utilized to simulate reservoir models with different well configurations. The experimental results showed that thermochemicals, such as ammonium chloride along with sodium nitrate, can be used to generate in situ thermal energy, which efficiently reduces heavy-oil viscosity. Comparison of results is made between the NPV achieved by the well configuration proposed by the SaDE and PSO methods. The results showed that the optimization using SaDE resulted in 15% increase in the NPV compared to that of the PSO after 10 years of production under in situ steam injection process using thermochemical reactions.

In Situ Combustion Technology In The Later SAGD Process In Extra Heavy Oil Reservoir

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Desheng ◽  
S. Lanxiang ◽  
X. Changfeng ◽  
Li Xiuluan ◽  
Guo Erpeng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Oil Reservoir ◽  
In Situ Combustion ◽  
Combustion Technology ◽  
Heavy Oil Reservoir

Research Status and Prospect of Heavy Oil Recovery Technology

2021 ◽  
Vol 888 ◽  
pp. 111-117
Author(s):  
Yi Zhao ◽  
De Yin Zhao ◽  
Rong Qiang Zhong ◽  
Li Rong Yao ◽  
Ke Ke Li
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Development Trend ◽  
Thermal Recovery ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Water Flooding ◽  
Oil Reservoir ◽  
Heavy Oil Recovery ◽  
Steam Flooding ◽  
Heavy Oil Reservoir

With the continuous exploitation of most reservoirs in China, the proportion of heavy oil reservoirs increases, and the development difficulty is greater than that of conventional reservoirs. In view of the important subject of how to improve the recovery factor of heavy oil reservoir, the thermal recovery technology (hot water flooding, steam flooding, steam assisted gravity drainage SAGD and steam huff and puff) and cold recovery technology (chemical flooding, electromagnetic wave physical flooding and microbial flooding) used in the development of heavy oil reservoir are summarized. The principle of action is analyzed, and the main problems restricting heavy oil recovery are analyzed The main technologies of heavy oil recovery are introduced from the aspects of cold recovery and hot recovery. Based on the study of a large number of literatures, and according to the development trend of heavy oil development, suggestions and prospects for the future development direction are put forward.

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