Experimental Study and Numerical Simulation of an Electrical Preheating for SAGD Wells in Heavy Oil Reservoirs

Wang, Chao; Wu, Yongbin; Jiang, Youwei; Zhang, Yunjun; Zheng, Huinan; Wang, Qiang; Zhang, Jipeng

doi:10.3390/en15176102

Cited by 3 publications

References 23 publications

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Electrical/Electromagnetic Enhanced Oil Recovery for Unconventional Reservoirs: A Review of Research and Field Applications in Latin America

Rodriguez,

Belhaj,

Morales

et al. 2024

Day 3 Wed, April 24, 2024

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The exploitation of unconventional oil reservoirs with low environmental impact represents a big challenge nowadays, where considerable efforts are being focused on the production of clean fuels with low carbon content, and the energy transition to the net-zero carbon emissions. Electrical/electromagnetic Enhanced Oil Recovery (EEOR) processes have been considered emerging techniques that allow increasing mobility of crude oil along with reduced and low environmental impact, compared to well-known and established thermal techniques such as steam injection where significant volumes of water are required for steam generation, coupled with the high production of acid gases during these processes. This article presents an exhaustive review of the Electrical/electromagnetic EOR methods evaluated at laboratory scale or investigated by numerical simulations, mostly undertaken for deeper understanding of the associated physical phenomena, as well as specific field-scale applications for several unconventional reservoirs in Latin America. In this context, the main challenges associated with the implementation of the process mechanisms and the application of these technologies along with the evaluation of applicable ranges of related critical parameters will be highlighted, and the main conclusions of laboratory experiences or/and field condition cases will be captured in this article. Among the main results of this review, it is found that the application of Electrical/electromagnetic EOR/IOR methods offers advantages in increasing the mobility of crude oil without generation of high-water cuts as well as reduced H2S production, both having significant low impact environmental considerations. However, the common operational challenges and/or issues of these EOR techniques are related to process inefficiency due to the presence of high-water saturation, reservoir heterogeneities, electrical leakage, mechanical failures, tool's material characteristics, location of the heating, gas breakthrough and management of greenhouse gases, which pose limitations on the wide-spread use of these heating methods. The paper will discuss important underlying aspects of the electrical/electromagnetic EOR processes to evaluate the viability of applying these methods in unconventional Latin American reservoirs, emphasizing Venezuelan reservoirs, based on technical and economic evaluations worldwide, targeting production of fossil fuels with low environmental impact from the huge hydrocarbon reserves located in Venezuela, mainly in the Orinoco Oil Belt.

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Electrical/Electromagnetic Enhanced Oil Recovery for Unconventional Reservoirs: A Review of Research and Field Applications in Latin America

Rodriguez,

Belhaj,

Morales

et al. 2024

Day 3 Wed, April 24, 2024

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Research on the Influence of Sand-Mud Interlayer Properties on the Expansion of SAGD Steam Chamber

An,

Sun,

et al. 2024

SPE Journal

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Thermal recovery techniques serve as the primary approach for developing heavy oil due to its high viscosity and poor flowability. In this study, we established a high-temperature and high-pressure 3D physical experimental and numerical model based on the unique reservoir characteristics of the sand-mud interlayer in the Long Lake oil sands of Canada, using similarity criteria. Physical and numerical experiments employing steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) were conducted to investigate the impact of sand-mud interlayer properties on the expansion limit of steam chambers during SAGD development. The results indicate that the expansion mode and limit of the steam chamber play a decisive role in heavy oil mobilization. Notably, heat loss during steam chamber expansion and the flow resistance caused by the interlayer are critical factors influencing the SAGD process. The presence of the interlayer extends the mobilization range in the lower portion of the reservoir, but it also limits the upward expansion of the steam chamber, resulting in a reduced mobilization range above the interlayer. Moreover, the steam chamber above the interlayer exhibits a distinct expansion pattern, featuring concave sides and a convex middle, resembling a “positive triangle.” Furthermore, the properties of the sand-mud interlayer and production parameters significantly affect the expansion limit of the steam chamber. Permeability and position exert a substantial impact on recovery, whereas thickness has a minor influence. Specifically, at an injection rate of 20 mL·min–1, steam quality of approximately 0.7, and a production/injection ratio of approximately 1.0, the steam chamber can successfully penetrate interlayers with a thickness of either 3.5 m and a permeability of 100×10−3 μm2 or 4.5 m and a permeability of 200×10−3 μm2.

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Understanding the Impact of Reservoir Low-Permeability Subdomains in the Steam Injection Process

et al. 2023

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Optimizing production in the mature fields of heavy oil reservoirs is still challenging. In most cases, conventional recovery techniques are not effective, although they are suitable for applying thermal recovery methods. Steam injection involves injecting steam into the reservoir where the heat exchange with the oil occurs. This promotes a reduction in oil viscosity and thus increases its mobility. One of the challenges of the EOR project is understanding how the presence of regions with contrasting properties, such as fractures, caves, and barriers, could affect the steam flow. This work investigates the impact of low-permeability barriers in the steam injection process. The barriers were created on a semi-synthetic reservoir characteristic of Brazilian onshore mature fields. We used the three-phase pseudo-compositional reservoir simulation STARS (Steam Thermal Advanced Processes Reservoir Simulation) for simulations. Our results show that the shape, number, and arrangement of barriers in a porous medium can affect the amount of oil recovered. They may also be able to anticipate or delay oil production.

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Experimental Study and Numerical Simulation of an Electrical Preheating for SAGD Wells in Heavy Oil Reservoirs

Cited by 3 publications

References 23 publications

Electrical/Electromagnetic Enhanced Oil Recovery for Unconventional Reservoirs: A Review of Research and Field Applications in Latin America

Electrical/Electromagnetic Enhanced Oil Recovery for Unconventional Reservoirs: A Review of Research and Field Applications in Latin America

Research on the Influence of Sand-Mud Interlayer Properties on the Expansion of SAGD Steam Chamber

Understanding the Impact of Reservoir Low-Permeability Subdomains in the Steam Injection Process

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