scholarly journals Steam injection in porous media: Case study WadiRajil, Jordan

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-63
Author(s):  
Mehaysen Mahasneh
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Steam Injection ◽  
Core Sample ◽  
Thermal Recovery ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Influx Rate ◽  
Recovery Method ◽  
Total Oil

Hot fluid injection, the preferred method used in the recovery of heavy oil and in various mechanisms such as steam drive, cyclic steam injection, steam stimulation, has become the industrial method for increasing recovery. These methods were used to promote heavy oil recovery by reducing the viscosity of asphalt and heavy oil and increasing the mobility of oil in reservoirs. The experimental test was carried out on a core sample obtained from the Ghareb Formation in the Wadi-Rajil area using cold water, hot water, and steam injection. The maximum recovery of oil in the sample using cold and hot water was 9.75% and 27.3 % respectively. On the other hand, the recovery of oil using steam injection was 42.5%. Thus, steam injection yielded more oil than cold and hot water injections in this experiment; the steam injection influx rate was approximately 15 mL/min. The total oil recovery of the sample using these three mechanisms was around 80%. The steam injection can, thus, be considered a promising thermal recovery method for asphalt and heavy oil in the Wadi-Rajil area.

Tertiary Recovery Improvement of Steam Injection Using Chemical Additives: Pore Scale Understanding of Challenges and Solutions Through Visual Experiments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randy Agra Pratama ◽  
Tayfun Babadagli
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Phase Distribution ◽  
Steam Injection ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Heavy Oil Recovery ◽  
Residual Oil ◽  
Tertiary Recovery

Abstract Our previous research, honoring interfacial properties, revealed that the wettability state is predominantly caused by phase change—transforming liquid phase to steam phase—with the potential to affect the recovery performance of heavy-oil. Mainly, the system was able to maintain its water-wetness in the liquid (hot-water) phase but attained a completely and irrevocably oil-wet state after the steam injection process. Although a more favorable water-wetness was presented at the hot-water condition, the heavy-oil recovery process was challenging due to the mobility contrast between heavy-oil and water. Correspondingly, we substantiated that the use of thermally stable chemicals, including alkalis, ionic liquids, solvents, and nanofluids, could propitiously restore the irreversible wettability. Phase distribution/residual oil behavior in porous media through micromodel study is essential to validate the effect of wettability on heavy-oil recovery. Two types of heavy-oils (450 cP and 111,600 cP at 25oC) were used in glass bead micromodels at steam temperatures up to 200oC. Initially, the glass bead micromodels were saturated with synthesized formation water and then displaced by heavy-oils. This process was done to exemplify the original fluid saturation in the reservoirs. In investigating the phase change effect on residual oil saturation in porous media, hot-water was injected continuously into the micromodel (3 pore volumes injected or PVI). The process was then followed by steam injection generated by escalating the temperature to steam temperature and maintaining a pressure lower than saturation pressure. Subsequently, the previously selected chemical additives were injected into the micromodel as a tertiary recovery application to further evaluate their performance in improving the wettability, residual oil, and heavy-oil recovery at both hot-water and steam conditions. We observed that phase change—in addition to the capillary forces—was substantial in affecting both the phase distribution/residual oil in the porous media and wettability state. A more oil-wet state was evidenced in the steam case rather than in the liquid (hot-water) case. Despite the conditions, auspicious wettability alteration was achievable with thermally stable surfactants, nanofluids, water-soluble solvent (DME), and switchable-hydrophilicity tertiary amines (SHTA)—improving the capillary number. The residual oil in the porous media yielded after injections could be favorably improved post-chemicals injection; for example, in the case of DME. This favorable improvement was also confirmed by the contact angle and surface tension measurements in the heavy-oil/quartz/steam system. Additionally, more than 80% of the remaining oil was recovered after adding this chemical to steam. Analyses of wettability alteration and phase distribution/residual oil in the porous media through micromodel visualization on thermal applications present valuable perspectives in the phase entrapment mechanism and the performance of heavy-oil recovery. This research also provides evidence and validations for tertiary recovery beneficial to mature fields under steam applications.

Research Status and Prospect of Heavy Oil Recovery Technology

2021 ◽  
Vol 888 ◽  
pp. 111-117
Author(s):  
Yi Zhao ◽  
De Yin Zhao ◽  
Rong Qiang Zhong ◽  
Li Rong Yao ◽  
Ke Ke Li
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Development Trend ◽  
Thermal Recovery ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Water Flooding ◽  
Oil Reservoir ◽  
Heavy Oil Recovery ◽  
Steam Flooding ◽  
Heavy Oil Reservoir

With the continuous exploitation of most reservoirs in China, the proportion of heavy oil reservoirs increases, and the development difficulty is greater than that of conventional reservoirs. In view of the important subject of how to improve the recovery factor of heavy oil reservoir, the thermal recovery technology (hot water flooding, steam flooding, steam assisted gravity drainage SAGD and steam huff and puff) and cold recovery technology (chemical flooding, electromagnetic wave physical flooding and microbial flooding) used in the development of heavy oil reservoir are summarized. The principle of action is analyzed, and the main problems restricting heavy oil recovery are analyzed The main technologies of heavy oil recovery are introduced from the aspects of cold recovery and hot recovery. Based on the study of a large number of literatures, and according to the development trend of heavy oil development, suggestions and prospects for the future development direction are put forward.

Experimental Research on Hot Water Flooding of Different Rhythm Heavy Oil Reservoir after the Steam Injection

2012 ◽  
Vol 550-553 ◽  
pp. 2878-2882 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Yuan Gai ◽  
Fang Hao Yin ◽  
Ting Ting Hao ◽  
Zhong Ping Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Physical Simulation ◽  
Steam Injection ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Water Flooding ◽  
Oil Reservoir ◽  
Steam Flooding ◽  
Heavy Oil Reservoir ◽  
Swept Volume

Based on the issue of enhancing oil recovery of heavy oil reservoir after steam injection, this paper studied the development characteristics of hot water flooding in different rhythm (positive rhythm, anti-rhythm, complex rhythm) reservoir after steam drive by means of physical simulation. The research shows that the positive rhythm reservoir has a large swept volume with steam flooding under the influence of steam overlay and steam channeling. Anti-rhythm reservoir has a large swept volume with hot water flooding, because hot water firstly flows along the high permeability region in upper part of the reservoir, in the process of displacement, hot water migrates to the bottom of reservoir successively for its higher density.

Visual Flooding Experiment of Hot Water, Steam and Solvent Under SAGD and VAPEX Conditions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Songyan Li ◽  
Rui Han ◽  
Qun Wang ◽  
Xuemei Wei
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Residual Oil ◽  
Displacement Efficiency ◽  
Sweep Efficiency ◽  
Water Steam ◽  
Solvent Vapor ◽  
Recovery Method ◽  
Steam Flooding

Abstract Steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) is an important method of heavy oil production, and the solvent vapor extraction (VAPEX) process is also an economically feasible, technically reliable, and environmentally friendly in situ heavy oil recovery method. In this paper, a microscopic visual flooding device was used to conduct seven groups of visual flooding experiments, including hot water, steam, liquid solvent and vapor solvent, at different temperatures. It can be directly observed that the residual oil in the hot water swept area is generally distributed in “spots”, “strips” and “clusters” of varying sizes. The residual oil after steam flooding generally has a “cluster” distribution, the residual oil after liquid solvent flooding has a “film” distribution, and there is only a little “spot” residual oil distributed after solvent vapor flooding. Additionally, we found that the sweep efficiency and displacement efficiency of hot water, steam and solvent increase with increasing temperature, and the sweep efficiency of hot water is higher than that of steam and liquid solvent. Vapor solvent has the greatest recovery factor, reaching approximately 90%. The experimental results hint at the future development trend of solvent injection and support the foundation of more general applications pertaining to the sustainable production of unconventional petroleum resources.

Oil Recovery by a Water-Driven Steam Slug

1971 ◽  
Vol 11 (04) ◽  
pp. 351-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M. El-Saleh ◽  
S.M. Farouq Ali
Keyword(s):  
Porous Medium ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Steam Injection ◽  
Injection Rate ◽  
Heat Losses ◽  
Recovery Method ◽  
The Core ◽  
Irreducible Water Saturation ◽  
Experimental Apparatus

Abstract Results of an experimental study of oil recovery by a steam slug driven by a cold waterflood in a linear porous medium are described. The model included simulation of heat losses to the adjacent formations. Steam displacements were conducted, using a number of hydrocarbons and various steam-slug sizes, with the core initially containing a residual oil or irreducible water saturation. It was found that the steam-slug displacement is more efficient in the case of light oils than for the heavier ones. The injection of cold water following steam resulted in almost total condensation of the steam present in the porous medium, with the process degenerating into a hot waterflood. The oil process degenerating into a hot waterflood. The oil recovery efficiency of the process depends on whether an oil bank is formed during the steam-injection phase and whether the oil responds favorably to a hot phase and whether the oil responds favorably to a hot waterflood Introduction Steam injection has been shown to be an effective oil recovery method both by field and laboratory tests. However, the method has the inherent disadvantages of a high cost of operation and excessive heat losses. The modification discussed here consists in the injection of cold water after a slug of steam, which helps to offset the above disadvantages partly at the expense of oil recovery. The injected water serves to propel the oil bank formed ahead of the steam-invaded zone and transports the heat contained in the steam-swept zone farther downstream, thus leading to more complete utilization of the heat injected. EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE Fig. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of the apparatus employed. It consisted of a 4-ft-long core composed of a steel tube having a rectangular cross-section (see Table 1 for dimensions and other information) packed with glass beads (mesh size 200 to 270, corresponding to 0.0021 to 0.0029 in.) and fitted with 15 iron-constantan thermocouples and eight pressure gauges. The two ends of the core were fitted with sintered bronze plates to ensure strictly linear fluid flow. In order to simulate the underlying formations, the core was placed upon a sand-filled wooden box having a depth placed upon a sand-filled wooden box having a depth of 2.5 ft and a length and width equal to those of the core. An identical box was placed in contact with the top surface of the core to simulate the overlying formations. The sand packs simulated infinitely thick formations, since the temperatures at the upper and lower extremities remained undisturbed during a run. The sides of the two boxes were fitted with thermometers and insulated, together with the exposed surface of the core; the top and bottom surfaces of the core were in contact with sand. An electrical system was designed for temperature measurement at the 15 points; the core inlet and outlet were fitted with thermocouples. A technique was devised for pressure measurement virtually without disturbing the flow. A positive-displacement pump, in conjunction with a coil immersed in a high-temperature oil bath, was used for conducting hot waterfloods as well as for preparing the core for a run (Fig. 1). Steam, having a quality of 95 percent was supplied by an electric boiler capable of delivering up to 69 lb/hr at pressures up m 250 psig. The core effluent was passed though a suitable condenser provided with passed though a suitable condenser provided with a backpressure regulator used to control the steam injection rate. The average steam (as condensate) injection rate for a run was estimated by dividing the total effluent volume minus the volume of the water needed to fill up the core at the end of steam injection, by the steam injection time. The properties of the fluids used are listed in Table 1. The hydrocarbon mixtures were chosen to study the steam distillation effects. Drakeol 15 and 33 at 80 deg. F are high-boiling mineral oils having viscosities of 515 and 100.0 cp, respectively. Viscosity-temperature behavior for the hydrocarbons used is shown in Fig. 2. The core was saturated with distilled water and then saturated with the oil to be tested by displacement (terminal WOR 1:100). If desired, the core was waterflooded prior to steam injection (terminal WOR 100:1). SPEJ P. 351

Optimisation of Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage [SAGD] for Improved Recovery from Unconsolidated Heavy Oil Reservoirs

2011 ◽  
Vol 367 ◽  
pp. 403-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Babs Mufutau Oyeneyin ◽  
Amol Bali ◽  
Ebenezer Adom
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Oil Industry ◽  
Steam Injection ◽  
Thermal Capacity ◽  
Thermal Recovery ◽  
Viscosity Reduction ◽  
Gravity Drainage ◽  
Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage ◽  
The Impact

Most of the heavy oil resources in the world are in sandstone reservoir rocks, the majority of which are unconsolidated sands which presents unique challenges for effective sand management. Because they are viscous and have less mobility, then appropriate recovery mechanisms that lower the viscosity to the point where it can readily flow into the wellbore and to the surface are required. There are many cold and thermal recovery methods assisted by gravity drainage being employed by the oil industry. These are customised for specific reservoir characteristics with associated sand production and management problems. Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) based on horizontal wells and gravity drainage, is becoming very popular in the heavy oil industry as a thermal viscosity reduction technique. SAGD has the potential to generate a heavy oil recovery factor of up to 65% but there are challenges to ‘’realising the limit’’. The process requires elaborate planning and is influenced by a combination of factors. This paper presents unique models being developed to address the issue of multiphase steam-condensed water-heavy oil modelling. It addresses the effects of transient issues such as the changing pore size distribution due to compaction on the bulk and shear viscosities of the non-Newtonian heavy oil and the impact on the reservoir productivity, thermal capacity of the heavy oil, toe-to-heel steam injection rate and quality for horizontal well applications. Specific case studies are presented to illustrate how the models can be used for detailed risk assessment for SAGD design and real-time process optimisation necessary to maximise production at minimum drawdown. Nomenclature

Research on Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Mechanism for Heavy Oil Thermal Recovery

2014 ◽  
Vol 607 ◽  
pp. 264-267
Author(s):  
Feng Sun ◽  
Wen Dong Yang
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Coupling Effect ◽  
Stress Transfer ◽  
Thermal Recovery ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Recovery Method ◽  
Mechanical Coupling ◽  
Fully Implicit ◽  
Coupling Equations

Thermal production is an important heavy oil recovery method , which bothers with the complex problems of Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical coupling effects and reservoir failure processes due to thermal recovery. Based on the coupling theory of T-H-M, the fully coupling equations of heat transfer, fluid seepage, geomechanics, and reservoir damage are constructed. The Galerkin FEM with fully implicit and sequential iterative algorithm is adopted to solve the coupling equations. Numerical results demonstrate that Thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling effect takes as important roles in thermal process. The response of the rocks surrounding the reservoir has a significant stress transfer, pore pressure increase or thermal cracking. This paper presents an analytical method to predictions coupled geomechanical effects and change of reservoir parameters, which are all important phenomena affecting heavy oil exploitation.

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