scholarly journals A Novel Technique to Determine Concentration-Dependent Solvent Dispersion in Vapex

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadil Abukhalifeh ◽  
Ali Lohi ◽  
Simant Ranjan Upreti
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
Variational Calculus ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Mass Transfer Model ◽  
Vapor Extraction ◽  
Unimodal Function ◽  
Novel Technique

Vapex (vapor extraction of heavy oil and bitumen) is a promising recovery technology because it consumes low energy, and is very environmentally-friendly. The dispersion of solvents into heavy oil and bitumen is a crucial transport property governing Vapex. The accurate determination of solvent dispersion in Vapex is essential to effectively predict the amount and time scale of oil recovery as well to optimize the field operations. In this work, a novel technique is developed to experimentally determine the concentration-dependent dispersion coefficient of a solvent in Vapex process. The principles of variational calculus are utilized in conjunction with a mass transfer model of the experimental Vapex process. A computational algorithm is developed to optimally compute solvent dispersion as a function of its concentration in heavy oil. The developed technique is applied to Vapex utilizing propane as a solvent. The results show that dispersion of propane is a unimodal function of its concentration in bitumen.

scholarly journals A Novel Technique to Determine Concentration-Dependent Solvent Dispersion in Vapex

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadil Abukhalifeh ◽  
Ali Lohi ◽  
Simant Ranjan Upreti
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
Variational Calculus ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Mass Transfer Model ◽  
Vapor Extraction ◽  
Unimodal Function ◽  
Novel Technique

Vapex (vapor extraction of heavy oil and bitumen) is a promising recovery technology because it consumes low energy, and is very environmentally-friendly. The dispersion of solvents into heavy oil and bitumen is a crucial transport property governing Vapex. The accurate determination of solvent dispersion in Vapex is essential to effectively predict the amount and time scale of oil recovery as well to optimize the field operations. In this work, a novel technique is developed to experimentally determine the concentration-dependent dispersion coefficient of a solvent in Vapex process. The principles of variational calculus are utilized in conjunction with a mass transfer model of the experimental Vapex process. A computational algorithm is developed to optimally compute solvent dispersion as a function of its concentration in heavy oil. The developed technique is applied to Vapex utilizing propane as a solvent. The results show that dispersion of propane is a unimodal function of its concentration in bitumen.

scholarly journals Determination of concentration-dependent dispersion of propane in vapor extraction of heavy oil

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadil Abukhalifeh
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Mass Fraction ◽  
Dispersion Coefficient ◽  
Dispersion Function ◽  
Vapor Extraction ◽  
Production Rates ◽  
Live Oil

Vapex (vapor extraction) is a solvent-based non-thermal in-situ heavy oil recovery process. In Vapex process, a vaporized hydrocarbon solvent is injected into an upper horizontal well where the solvent mixes with the heavy oil and reduces its viscosity. The diluted oil drains under gravity to a bottom production well. Two mechanisms control the production rates of heavy oil in Vapex: mass transfer of solvent into heavy oil, and gravity drainage. Both are governed by dispersion, which is composed of molecular diffusion, convection, and other mechanisms that enhance mixing in porous medium. The accurate determination of solvent dispersion in Vapex is essential to predict effectively the amount and time scale of oil recovery as well to optimize the field operations. Motivated by limited dispersion data in the literature, a novel technique is developed to determine experimentally the concentration-dependent dispersion coefficient of propane in Vapex process, The technique employs live oil production rates obtained from Vapex experiments at 21ºC and 0.790 MPa. The salient feature of this technique is that it does not impose any functional form on dispersion as a function of concentration, but allows its natural and realistic determination. The technique could be applied to determine other solvents dispersion coefficient used in the in-situ recovery of heavy oil. Propane dispersion coefficient is determined by the minimization of the difference in experimental and calculated cumulative live oil produced. The necessary conditions for the minimum are fundamentally derived, utilizing the theory of optimal control. A computational algorithm is formulated to calculate the propane dispersion function simultaneously with propane-heavy oil interface mass fraction. Physical models of glass beads of different permeabilities (204-51 Darcy) and drainage heights (25-45 cm) were used to conduct the Vapex experiments. The results show that dispersion of propane is a unimodal function of its concentration in heavy oil, and lies in the range, 0.5x10⁻⁵- 7.933x10⁻⁵ m²/s. Convectional mixing is promoted by higher model drainage heights and lower permeability. Finally, propane dispersion is correlated as a function of propane mass fraction in heavy oil and the packed medium permeability, as well as the drainage height.

scholarly journals Determination of concentration-dependent dispersion of propane in vapor extraction of heavy oil

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadil Abukhalifeh
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Mass Fraction ◽  
Dispersion Coefficient ◽  
Dispersion Function ◽  
Vapor Extraction ◽  
Production Rates ◽  
Live Oil

Vapex (vapor extraction) is a solvent-based non-thermal in-situ heavy oil recovery process. In Vapex process, a vaporized hydrocarbon solvent is injected into an upper horizontal well where the solvent mixes with the heavy oil and reduces its viscosity. The diluted oil drains under gravity to a bottom production well. Two mechanisms control the production rates of heavy oil in Vapex: mass transfer of solvent into heavy oil, and gravity drainage. Both are governed by dispersion, which is composed of molecular diffusion, convection, and other mechanisms that enhance mixing in porous medium. The accurate determination of solvent dispersion in Vapex is essential to predict effectively the amount and time scale of oil recovery as well to optimize the field operations. Motivated by limited dispersion data in the literature, a novel technique is developed to determine experimentally the concentration-dependent dispersion coefficient of propane in Vapex process, The technique employs live oil production rates obtained from Vapex experiments at 21ºC and 0.790 MPa. The salient feature of this technique is that it does not impose any functional form on dispersion as a function of concentration, but allows its natural and realistic determination. The technique could be applied to determine other solvents dispersion coefficient used in the in-situ recovery of heavy oil. Propane dispersion coefficient is determined by the minimization of the difference in experimental and calculated cumulative live oil produced. The necessary conditions for the minimum are fundamentally derived, utilizing the theory of optimal control. A computational algorithm is formulated to calculate the propane dispersion function simultaneously with propane-heavy oil interface mass fraction. Physical models of glass beads of different permeabilities (204-51 Darcy) and drainage heights (25-45 cm) were used to conduct the Vapex experiments. The results show that dispersion of propane is a unimodal function of its concentration in heavy oil, and lies in the range, 0.5x10⁻⁵- 7.933x10⁻⁵ m²/s. Convectional mixing is promoted by higher model drainage heights and lower permeability. Finally, propane dispersion is correlated as a function of propane mass fraction in heavy oil and the packed medium permeability, as well as the drainage height.

Determination of gas dispersion in vapor extraction of heavy oil and bitumen

2006 ◽  
Vol 51 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 214-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronak A. Kapadia ◽  
Simant R. Upreti ◽  
Ali Lohi ◽  
Ioannis Chatzis
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Vapor Extraction ◽  
Gas Dispersion

A Comprehensive Model for Simulating Supercritical-Water Flow in a Vertical Heavy-Oil Well

SPE Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Jiaxi Gao ◽  
Yuedong Yao ◽  
Dawen Wang ◽  
Hang Tong
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Supercritical Water ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Oil Well ◽  
Horizontal Wellbore ◽  
Predicted Values

Summary Supercritical water has been proved effective in heavy-oil recovery. However, understanding the flow characteristics of supercritical water in the wellbore is still in the early stages. In this paper, using the theory of heat transfer and fluid mechanics and combining that with the physical properties of supercritical water, a heat-transfer model for vertical wellbore injection with supercritical water is established. The influence of heat transfer and the Joule-Thomson effect on the temperature of supercritical water are considered. Results show the following: The predicted values of pressure and temperature are in good agreement with the test values. The apparent pressure of supercritical water at the upper end of the wellbore is lower than the apparent pressure at the lower end. However, the equivalent pressure of supercritical water at the upper end of the wellbore is higher than the equivalent pressure at the lower end. The apparent pressure of supercritical water is affected by three factors: flow direction, overlying pressure, and Joule-Thomsoneffect. The closer to the bottom of the well, the greater the overlying pressure of the supercritical water, resulting in an increase in apparent pressure and the density of the supercritical water. As the injection time for supercritical water increases, the temperature around the upper horizontal wellbore increases.

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