Numerical Simulation in Steam Injection Process by a Mechanistic Approach

Abstract

This work describes the development of a hydrodynamic and heat transfer mechanistic model for steam flow in a steam injection process. The problem of two-phase steam flow in pipelines and wellbores has been solved recently by using available empirical correlations from the petroleum and nuclear industry by Lopes (1986) and Moura (1991). Despite the good performance achieved by the empirical approach, mechanistic models developed by Ansari (1994), Hasan (1995), Gomez (2000) and Kaya (2001) supports the importance of using the mechanistic approach for the steam flow problem in injection systems. In this study, the methodology to solve the problem consists in the application of a numerical method to the governing equations of steam flow. A marching algorithm is used to determine the distribution of pressure and temperature along the pipelines and wellbores. A computer code has been formulated to get numerical results. These results are compared to results of the main models found in the literature. Finally, when compared to available field data, the mechanistic model for steam flow gives better results than empirical correlations.