Study On Thermal-GAS EOR Method in In-Depth Extra-Heavy Oil Reservoir in China

Guo, Erpeng; Jiang, Youwei; Gao, Yongrong; Wang, Hongyuan; Yao, Wei

doi:10.2118/179799-ms

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

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Feasibility of SAGD as a Follow-Up Process to CSS for a Massive Deep Bitumen Reservoir

Wang

Han

et al. 2018

Day 1 Tue, March 13, 2018

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Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) is a widely used thermal recovery method for heavy oil and bitumen. S-13832 reservoir in Liaohe oil field in China is reaching economical limit after several cycles of cyclic steam stimulation (CSS). To improve the recovery, toe-to-heel air injection (THAI) had been field tested, however with unfavorable results. In this study, we analyze the alternative SAGD process and show it as most promising follow-up for CSS in S1-3832 reservoir. We first conduct comprehensive summary of reasons for the previous THAI trial failure, including lack of knowledge for shale layer distributions, difficulties in control spreading of combustion front and blockage of wellbore. Then, numerical simulation has been performed to investigate the feasibility and advantage of using SAGD process in S1-3832. A fine-grid reservoir model with shale layers carefully characterized for reservoir heterogeneity and oil-water distributions modeled. Finally, history match of the field is carried out and dominant influencing factors for SAGD recovery were determined in order to establish an optimum reservoir development strategy. Vertical injector-horizontal producer and vertical injector-vertical producer hybrid well configuration is adopted in the type pattern simulation model. Key parameters such as perforation locations, steam quality, production-injection ratio, injection rate and SAGD transition time are optimized. It is observed that steam chamber shape is irregular due to the presence of shale layers in some locations. Based on shale layer characteristics of the reservoir, perforation positions together with injection and production rates are adjusted to improve the conformance in these areas. According to these findings, a practical development strategy is designed. Ultimately, the simulation results show the production rate, accumulative oil-steam ratio and other indicators satisfy the requirement of economic development, with incremental recovery factor of 39%in the SAGD stage. The optimum development plan has been successfully implemented for more than 1 year now, with monitored temperature showing steam chamber growth in favorable manner in the entire reservoir, even in area above shale barriers. With thermal communication achieved, production rate increases progressively, indicating a smooth transition to SAGD mode. This work has demonstrated SAGD as effective recovery process in S1-3832. It also provides technical guidance for designing follow-up processes to CSS for similar reservoirs.

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Feasibility of SAGD as a Follow-Up Process to CSS for a Massive Deep Bitumen Reservoir

Wang

Han

et al. 2018

Day 1 Tue, March 13, 2018

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Surveillance of Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage in In-Depth Extra-Heavy Oil Reservoir

Wang

Guo

2018

Day 2 Tue, March 27, 2018

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In 2008, We presented a paper "Application of Temperature Observation Wells during SAGD Operations in a Medium Deep Burial Extra Heavy Oil Reservoir" at the Petroleum Society's 59th Annual Technical Meeting. After 10 years SAGD technology is already widely adopted in exploiting extra heavy oil in China. This paper summarizes the experience on surveillance of SAGD project in the past years. During SAGD process the adjustment of steam chamber in both vertical and horizontal direction and operation parameters should base on synthetic surveillance data. In the past, the surveillance approach is very limited and the results cannot be used as effective indicators. The successful application of reservoir based synthetic surveillance approach produced reliable data for management of SAGD project in Du 84 block Liaohe Oil field. The applied technical series include pressure/temperature observation wells, pressure/temperature monitoring in horizontal wells, time-lapse seismic monitoring, micro-gravity test etc. With the help of these monitoring data, the accurate and long term effective database was established. The application of synthetic monitoring system provides the opportunity of accurate control of steam injection and production. The temperature and pressure observation well can monitor the vertical development of steam chamber, especially in gas-SAGD process. The observation well can detect the vertical sweep area of injected gas which can give effective approach in SAGD management. The temperature and pressure monitoring and tracer test can provide information for connection between injector and producer. 4-Dimensional seismic and 4-Dimensional micro gravity is a new approach of combination for petro-physical technology and petroleum development. 4D seismic not only can remap the geological body but also it can depict the steam chamber distribution in the reservoir. 4D micro gravity monitoring can accurately detect the front of steam chamber. With these data, the distribution of steam zone and residual oil is clear for future reservoir management. This paper gives a verified approach of surveillance and the corresponding operation adjustment. And this can be guidance for design and application of new SAGD surveillance system.

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Study on Thermal Chamber Expansion of VH-SAGD Process Using CO2-Inducing Effect for Heavy Oil Reservoirs

Xie,

Zhang,

et al. 2024

Processes

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In heavy oil thermal recovery processes, higher pressure usually leads to low dryness and expansion difficulty for the injected steam in thermal recovery processes, which will result in lower oil recovery and more carbon emissions. This paper proposed a new CO2-inducing method to accelerate the steam chamber expansion, based on a core flooding experiment and numerical simulation. First, the CO2 showed significant viscosity reduction at high pressure in the PVT test. In the core flooding experiment, the CO2 provided strong flow conductivity in porous media for the thermal flooding, as the CO2 pre-injection restrained the steam condensation. Using the CO2-inducing method, CO2 pre-injection before steam built a fast flow channel in a relatively higher permeability layer and reduced the thermal injection pressure by about 1.0~2.4 MPa. As a result, the steam overlap around the injection wells became slower and the gravity drainage process was able to heat and displace the heavy oil above the channel. Furthermore, the CO2 gas trapped at the top reduced heat loss by about 12.4%. The field numerical simulation showed that this new method improved thermal recovery by 7.5% and reduced CO2 emissions by about 18 million kg/unit for the whole process. This method changes the conventional thermal expansion direction by CO2 inducing effect and fundamentally reduces heat loss, which provides significant advantages in low-carbon EOR.

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Study On Thermal-GAS EOR Method in In-Depth Extra-Heavy Oil Reservoir in China

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

Feasibility of SAGD as a Follow-Up Process to CSS for a Massive Deep Bitumen Reservoir

Feasibility of SAGD as a Follow-Up Process to CSS for a Massive Deep Bitumen Reservoir

Surveillance of Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage in In-Depth Extra-Heavy Oil Reservoir

Study on Thermal Chamber Expansion of VH-SAGD Process Using CO2-Inducing Effect for Heavy Oil Reservoirs

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