Factors Affecting Fuel Availability and Composition During In Situ Combustion

Abstract

1 his paper presents data obtained using a flood-pot technique to determine the fuel available and the corresponding theoretical air requirements for in situ combustion of crude oils. Since the technique is relatively quick and easy, it is a practical and convenient tool for evaluating reservoirs as fireflood prospects. It is also a research tool which facilitates systematic study of the variables affecting fuel availability and corresponding air requirements. The understanding of these variables is of prime importance to those concerned with the technical and economic development of in situ combustion as an oilrecovery process.The experimental results show conclusively that the fuel available for in situ combustion is not a constant but, rather, varies with crude-oil characteristics, porous-medium type, oil saturation, air flux and time-temperature relationships. Thus, the fuel availability for specified field applications should be determined using actual reservoir crude and cofe material and the process conditions expected during in situ combustion in the reservoir.

In-Situ Combustion Handbook -- Principles and Practices

“…Eighteen producers and five air injection wells were drilled in the pilot area (Figure 6.1). Nine wells (1,8,9,10,12,13,15,16, and 18) were completed in the Upper Lobe, six were completed in the Lower Lobe, and eight wells in the full interval of the Ansberry sand, including the Upper, Middle, and Lower Lobes. The air injectors were completed down-dip from the center of each pattern in an effort to compensate for the expected directional flow of air up-dip.…”

Low-temperature oxidation of Lloydminster heavy oil: Kinetic study and product sequence estimation

“…Alexander et al performed the flood pot method to study the fuel availability for the ISC technique. Their results revealed that the fuel availability depended on the type of porous media, oil saturation and crude oil characteristics [14].…”

Liquid phase oxidation kinetics of oil sands bitumen: Models for in situ combustion numerical simulators

“…These papers include: Alexander et al (1962), Bennion et al (1977), Burger and Sahuquet (1973). Cram and Redford (1977), Dietz (1 970), Dietz and Weidjema (1 968), Morse (1 976), Nelson and McNiels (1956), Showalter (1963), Smith and Perkins (1973), Reed et al (1960), andWalter (1977).…”

“…Cram and Redford (1977), Dietz (1 970), Dietz and Weidjema (1 968), Morse (1 976), Nelson and McNiels (1956), Showalter (1963), Smith and Perkins (1973), Reed et al (1960), andWalter (1977). The performance of in situ combustion processes depends on the accompanying low-temperature oxidation (LTO) reactions (Alexander et al, 1962;Dabbous and Fulton, 1974;Burger and Sahuquet, 1973). Furthermore, results of published laboratory and field studies indicate that more meaningful analysis of combustion data cannot be made until the LTO reaction kinetics are studied and the reaction mechanisms elucidated.…”