In-Situ Steam Generation A New Technology Application for Heavy Oil Production

The aquathermolysis of Shengli heavy oil during steam stimulation was studied by using a new oil-soluble catalyst for the reaction in this paper. The laboratory experiment shows that the viscosity reduction ratio of heavy oil is over 75% at the circumstances of 200°C, 24 hs, 0.3 % catalyst solution. The viscosity of upgraded heavy oil is changed from 25306mPa•s to 6175mPa•s at 50°C. The chemical and physical properties of heavy oil both before and after reaction were studied by using column chromatography (CC) analysis and elemental analysis (EL). The percentage of saturated hydrocarbon、aromatic hydrocarbon and H/C increased, and resin、asphalt and the amount of element of S,O and N decreased after the aquathermolysis. The changes of the composition and structure of the heavy oil can lead to the viscosity reduction and the improvement the quality of heavy oil. The results are very useful for the popularization and application of the new technology for the in situ upgrading of heavy oil by aquathermolysis.

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Heavy Oil Production By In Situ Combustion-Distinguishing the Effects of the Steam And Fire Fronts

Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology ◽

10.2118/98-04-02 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 37 (04) ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

N.P. Freitag ◽

D.R. Exelby

Keyword(s):

Heavy Oil ◽

Oil Production ◽

In Situ Combustion

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Fluids Behaviors in Heavy Oil Production - Water-in-Oil Emulsion, CO2-Gas Foam and In-Situ Combustion

Journal of the Japanese Association for Petroleum Technology ◽

10.3720/japt.79.391 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 79 (6) ◽

pp. 391-397

Author(s):

Kyuro Sasaki ◽

Yuichi Sugai ◽

Chanmoly Or ◽

Yuta Yoshioka ◽

Junpei Kumasaka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Oil ◽

Oil Production ◽

Oil Emulsion ◽

Production Water ◽

Water In Oil Emulsion

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Half a century of continuous oil production by in-situ combustion in Romania – case study Suplacu de Barcau field

MATEC Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/matecconf/202134309009 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 343 ◽

pp. 09009

Author(s):

Gheorghe Branoiu ◽

Florinel Dinu ◽

Maria Stoicescu ◽

Iuliana Ghetiu ◽

Doru Stoianovici

Keyword(s):

Oil Recovery ◽

Heavy Oil ◽

Oil Production ◽

Oil Field ◽

Oil Reservoir ◽

In Situ Combustion ◽

Cyclic Steam Stimulation ◽

The Impact ◽

Steam Stimulation

Thermal oil recovery is a special technique belonging to Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods and includes steam flooding, cyclic steam stimulation, and in-situ combustion (fire flooding) applied especially in the heavy oil reservoirs. Starting 1970 in-situ combustion (ISC) process has been successfully applied continuously in the Suplacu de Barcau oil field, currently this one representing the most important reservoir operated by ISC in the world. Suplacu de Barcau field is a shallow clastic Pliocene, heavy oil reservoir, located in the North-Western Romania and geologically belonging to Eastern Pannonian Basin. The ISC process are operated using a linear combustion front propagated downstructure. The maximum oil production was recorded in 1985 when the total air injection rate has reached maximum values. Cyclic steam stimulation has been continuously applied as support for the ISC process and it had a significant contribution in the oil production rates. Nowadays the oil recovery factor it’s over 55 percent but significant potential has left. In the paper are presented the important moments in the life-time production of the oil field, such as production history, monitoring of the combustion process, technical challenges and their solving solutions, and scientific achievements revealed by many studies performed on the impact of the ISC process in the oil reservoir.

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Improve Oil Production From Tar-Impacted Reservoirs Using In-Situ Steam Generation and Ionic Liquids

10.2118/204526-ms ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ayman Al-Nakhli ◽

Hussain Al-Jeshi ◽

Olalekan Alade ◽

Mohamed Mahmoud ◽

Wajdi Buhaezah

Keyword(s):

Ionic Liquids ◽

New Technology ◽

Exothermic Reaction ◽

Thermochemical Treatment ◽

Reaction Products ◽

Steam Generation ◽

Sweep Efficiency ◽

Water Contact ◽

Steam Flooding

Abstract One of the typical production challenges is occurrence of impermeable layers of highly viscous asphaltenic oil (known as tarmat) at oil/water contact within a reservoir. Tar forms a physical barrier that isolates producing zones from aquifer or water injectors. As a result of tar occurrence, is a rapid pressure decrease that can be observed in such reservoirs, increasing number of dead wells, and declining productivity. Another indirect consequence of Tar presence is poor sweep efficiency that leads to water cut increase by a drastic magnitude. An innovative approach was developed to establish better sweep efficiency, transmissibility and pressure maintenance of Tar impacted-areas using thermochemical treatment. The treatment consists of injecting exothermic reaction-components that react downhole and generate in-situ pressure and heat. The in-situ reaction products provide heat and gas-drive energy to mobilize tar, improve sweep efficiency and maintain flooding for better pressure maintenance. Typically, downhole heat generation through chemical reaction releases substantial heat which could be employed in various thermal stimulation operations. Nano/ionic liquids, high pH solutions, solvents and nano metals were combined with the exothermic reaction to improve tar mobilization. Based on lab testing, the new technology showed more recovery than conventional steam flooding. Permeable channels were created in a tar layer with sandback samples, which enhanced transmissibility, pressure support and sweep efficiency. The effect of thermochemical treatment and ionic liquid on bitumen texture will be described. Impact of In-situ generated heat on injectivity will also be presented. The novel method will enable commercial production from tar-impacted reservoirs, and avoid costly steam flooding systems. The developed novel treatment relates to in-situ steam generation to maximize heat delivery efficiency of steam into the reservoir and to minimize heat losses due to under and/or over burdens. The generated in-situ steam and gas can be applied to recover deep oil reservoirs, which cannot be recovered with traditional steam, miscible gas, nor polymer injection methods.

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

Journal of Energy Resources Technology ◽

10.1115/1.4041613 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 141 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

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.

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