Making Sense of the Geomechanical Impact on the Heavy-Oil Extraction Process at Peace River Based on Quantitative Analysis and Modeling

McGillivray, Peter; Brissenden, Simon John; Bourne, Stephen; Maron, K.; Bakker, P. M.

doi:10.2118/102876-ms

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…3 (Du et al, 2005). McGillivray et al (2006) reported that during the first year (October 2002-October 2003, the reservoir volume increased by 400,000 m 3 .…”

Section: Shell Peace River Canadamentioning

confidence: 99%

Land uplift due to subsurface fluid injection

Teatini¹,

Gambolati²,

Ferronato³

et al. 2011

Journal of Geodynamics

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The subsurface injection of fluid (water, gas, vapour) occurs worldwide for a variety of purposes, e.g. to enhance oil production (EOR), store gas in depleted gas/oil fields, recharge overdrafted aquifer systems (ASR), and mitigate anthropogenic land subsidence. Irrespective of the injection target, some areas have experienced an observed land uplift ranging from a few millimetres to tens of centimetres over a time period of a few months to several years depending on the quantity and spatial distribution of the fluid used, pore pressure increase, geological setting (depth, thickness, and area extent), and hydro-geomechanical properties of the injected formation. The present paper reviews the fundamental geomechanical processes that govern land upheaval due to fluid injection in the subsurface and presents a survey of some interesting examples of anthropogenic uplift measured in the past by the traditional levelling technique and in recent times with the aid of satellite technology. The examples addressed include Long Beach, Santa Clara Valley, and Santa Ana basin, California; Las Vegas Valley, Nevada; Cold Lake and other similar sites, Canada; Tokyo and Osaka, Japan; Taipei, Taiwan; Krechba, Algeria; Upper Palatinate, Germany; Chioggia and Ravenna, Italy

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“…3 (Du et al, 2005). McGillivray et al (2006) reported that during the first year (October 2002-October 2003, the reservoir volume increased by 400,000 m 3 .…”

Section: Shell Peace River Canadamentioning

confidence: 99%

Land uplift due to subsurface fluid injection

Teatini¹,

Gambolati²,

Ferronato³

et al. 2011

Journal of Geodynamics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…This allows an earth model to be assembled, and the geomechanics model will be based on the use of seismics to interpolate between wells. To avoid excessive model complexity, usually a limited number of GMUs are defined (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), and usually these are chosen to correspond as well with clear lithostratigraphic units. In each GMU, a set of identical mechanical and petrophysical parameters is usually stipulated (although stochastic simulation can be used to vary parameters to simulate heterogeneity at various scales).…”

Section: Seismics and The Geomechanics Whole Earth Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring and Modelling in Coupled Geomechanics Processes

Dusseault¹

2007

Canadian International Petroleum Conference

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Geomechanics issues are vital in all reservoir processes, but particularly so in weak, unconsolidated sandstones. Coupled stress-flow simulation is necessary to analyse and understand effects such as changes in reservoir volume that arise from heating and pressurization, and non-linear plasticity models that incorporate shear dilatancy are needed to simulate the dilation effects that are observed in any thermal process in sands.Coupling of flow and stress is based on the volume changes that arise with changes in pressur and temperature. Incorporating shear dilation is based on computation of effective stresses from ΔT and Δp, then assessing the state of the rock to see if and how much it shears and dilates. These processes are ill-quantified at present, so it is necessary to monitor.The two monitoring domains that are of greatest interest to coupled geomechanics simulation are the deformation field and the seismic attributes field. More specifically, how these fields evolve in space and with time are the key factors to tracking processes to calibrating geomechanics models, and to the successful optimization of complex in situ processes.A general geomechanics view of how to achieve process monitoring and optimization goals is presented in a general fashion. Further progress in the areas of monitoring, inversion, and geomechanics simulation is needed, although recent developments have advanced these aspects.

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Realistic History Matching of Cyclic Steam Stimulation Performance of Several Groups of Multilateral Wells in the Peace River Field, Canada

Mohiddin

Koci

2007

All Days

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With 8 billion barrels of bitumen in place and more than 30 years of thermal piloting and demonstration projects, Peace River offers an excellent growth opportunity for Shell's ultra-heavy oil portfolio. In support of this initiative, integrated geological and reservoir modeling of two project areas was conducted. The key objectives were toimprove predictive modeling capability of cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) projects by history matching two groups of CSS multilateral wells anddevelop a history matched physical representation that not only validates empirical models but can be deployed to optimize CSS designs for full field development. Detailed geological models were created over two pad areas providing a geological framework large enough to have realistic boundary conditions, including impact of surrounding wells. The geological models were imported into CMG's STARS thermal reservoir simulator, and a relatively fine grid was extended over each project area. All available historical production, injection, pressure and temperature data were used in history matching. Steam-induced reservoir dilation, explicit fracturing, and relative permeability hysteresis were important aspects of the overall physical representation. Common physical parameters for dilation/re-compaction, fractures, permeability/porosity transforms, vertical to horizontal permeability ratios, and relative permeability hysteresis were used for both pads. Each pad area maintained its own unique geological, petrophysical, and fluid properties, in line with observed field trends. Excellent history matches (aided by experimental design) of injection and production volumes, injection wellhead pressures, estimated production bottom-hole pressures and temperature profiles were achieved not only for the entire Pad A and B groups of wells, but also for the individual wells. In summary, a predictive CSS simulation model has been developed and validated by history matching two areas of the Peace River field. The model is suitable for sensitivity studies of geological, petrophysical, and fluid properties. It is also capable of assessing impact of well configuration, spacing, steam quality, and steaming strategy. Introduction Peace River is 100% Shell owned heavy oil property located in north-western Alberta, Canada, approximately 700 km northwest of Edmonton (Fig. 1). It holds approximately 8 billion barrels of 7°API oil in place trapped in approximately 30 m thick semi-consolidated sand layer (Fig. 2a) buried at a depth of about 600 m, and spread over approximately 370 km2. The Bluesky reservoir has been broadly classified into two intervals, poorer quality Estuarine and good quality Deltaic (Fig. 2b). CSS is employed to extract the oil, most recently using closely spaced multi-lateral horizontal wells drilled from a central pad. Modeling Objectives Growth plans being considered cover development across the entire field. Optimizing such a development plan requires investigating a host of sensitivities, including well configuration, placement, spacing, steam quality, steam slug sizes, production cycle length etc. Thermal reservoir simulation is a viable tool that can be deployed to explore for the most optimum case. The challenge with such models is for them to be reasonably well history matched, while at the same time retaining their predictive capability. Injection above fracture pressure adds to physical complexities. Addressing this challenge became the primary modeling objective.

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Making Sense of the Geomechanical Impact on the Heavy-Oil Extraction Process at Peace River Based on Quantitative Analysis and Modeling

Cited by 7 publications

References 6 publications

Land uplift due to subsurface fluid injection

Land uplift due to subsurface fluid injection

Monitoring and Modelling in Coupled Geomechanics Processes

Realistic History Matching of Cyclic Steam Stimulation Performance of Several Groups of Multilateral Wells in the Peace River Field, Canada

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