A Comparison Study between the Newly Developed Vertical Wells Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage and the Conventional SAGD Process

A numerical simulation study using the CMG-STAR Simulator was performed to compare the performance of the newly developed process (VWSAGD) utilizing vertical wells to enhance heavy oil recovery during steam assisted gravity drainage against the conventional steam assisted gravity drainage process which utilized horizontal wells (HWSAGD) under the same operating conditions. Two identical reservoir models were simulated for the two processes using 3-Dimensional, black heavy oil model (14° API). Each reservoir type consists of 49 × 49 × 20 grid blocks on a 5-acre model, which incorporated a typical heavy oil reservoir rock and fluid properties taken from the SPE case study, stspe001.dat (CMG 2015 release). A sensitivity analysis for both processes was performed for the grid density, soaking time, steam quality, bottom hole producing pressure, steam injection rate, reservoir thickness, reservoir area, and horizontal to vertical permeability anisotropy. More preferable reservoir conditions are those such as high horizontal to vertical permeability ratio, thick reservoir oil zones, as well as improved reservoir recovery for the VWSAGD process. Under unfavorable conditions such as thin reservoir oil zones, an improved reservoir recovery response was limited for the VWSAGD process and could be uneconomical in real field cases. Finally, the simulation results from this study include cumulative recoveries, Steam oil ratios, produced water-oil ratios, pressure and temperature distributions, and production rates. In addition, the results from this study have shown that the new VWSAGD process is more favorable than the conventional HWSAGD process.

Models of steam-assisted gravity drainage(SAGD) steam chamber expanding velocity in double horizontal wells and its application

The development of steam chamber can be used to evaluate steam-assisted gravity drainage(SAGD) performance. The velocity of steam chamber expanding is the key parameter for evaluating the development of steam chamber. Based on SAGD technology theory and heat transfer theory, two calculation model methods, observation well temperature method and steam chamber edge method for estimating the horizontal expanding velocity of steam chamber, were presented. Through analyzing the monitoring data and numerical simulation results of a typical super heavy oil block developed by SAGD in Fengcheng oilfield in Xinjiang, NW China, the development patterns of steam chamber and temperature variation law in the observation well at different stages are determined. The observed temperature data was used to calculate steam chamber expanding velocity. The calculated chamber velocity at different time was applied to predict the temperature distribution of oil drainage zone at the edge of steam chamber and SAGD oil rate. The results indicate that temperature function of high temperature zone in the observation well temperature curve has a linear relationship with measuring depth.The characteristic section can be used to calculate key parameters such as the angle of the drainage interface, expanding edge and velocity of steam chamber. The field production data verify that the results of the two proposed methods of steam chamber growth are reliable and practical, which can provide theoretical support for the efficient development of SAGD.

CO2 assisted steam flooding in late steam flooding in heavy oil reservoirs

To improve the oil recovery and economic efficiency in heavy oil reservoirs in late steam flooding,taking J6 Block of Xinjiang Oilfield as the research object,3D physical modeling experiments of steam flooding,CO2-foam assisted steam flooding,and CO2 assisted steam flooding under different perforation conditions are conducted,and CO2-assisted steam flooding is proposed for reservoirs in the late stage of steam flooding.The experimental results show that after adjusting the perforation in late steam flooding,the CO2 assisted steam flooding formed a lateral expansion of the steam chamber in the middle and lower parts of the injection well and a development mode for the production of overriding gravity oil drainage in the top chamber of the production well;high temperature water,oil,and CO2 formed stable low-viscosity quasi-single-phase emulsified fluid;and CO2 acted as a thermal insulation in the steam chamber at the top,reduced the steam partial pressure inside the steam chamber,and effectively improved the heat efficiency of injected steam.Based on the three-dimensional physical experiments and the developed situation of the J6 block in Xinjiang Oilfield,the CO2 assisted steam flooding for the J6 block was designed.The application showed that the CO2 assisted steam flooding made the oil vapor ratio increase from 0.12 to 0.16 by 34.0%,the oil recovery increase from 16.1%to 21.5%,and the final oil recovery goes up to 66.5%compared to steam flooding after perforation adjustment.

Oil production rate predictions for steam assisted gravity drainage based on high-pressure experiments

Dual-well steam assisted gravity drainage(SAGD) has significant potential for extra-heavy oil recovery.China is conducting two dual-well SAGD pilot projects in the Fengcheng extra-heavy oil reservoir.Quick,direct predictions of the oil production rate by algebraic models rather than complex numerical models are of great importance for designing and adjusting the SAGD operations.A low-pressure scaled physical simulation was previously used to develop two separate theoretical models corresponding to the two different growth stages observed in the SAGD steam chambers,which are the steam chamber rising stage and the steam chamber spreading stage.A high-pressure scaled model experiment is presented here for one dual-well SAGD pattern to further improve the prediction models to reasonably predict oil production rates for full production.Parameters that significantly affect the oil recovery during SAGD were scaled for the model size based on the reservoir characteristics of the Fengcheng reservoir in China.Experimental results show the relationship between the evolution of the steam chamber and the oil production rate during the entire production stage.High-pressure scaled model test was used to improve the gravity drainage models by modifying empirical factors for the rising model and the depletion model.A new division of the SAGD production regime was developed based on the relationship between the oil production rate and the evolution of steam chamber.A method was developed to couple the rising and depletion models to predict oil production rates during the SAGD production,especially during the transition period.The method was validated with experiment data and field data from the literature.The model was then used to predict the oil production rate in the Fengcheng reservoir in China and the Athabasca reservoir in Canada.

Predicting the performance of steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) method utilizing artificial neural network (ANN)

As the price of oil decreases,it is becoming increasingly important for oil companies to operate in the most costeffective manner.This problem is especially apparent in Western Canada,where most oil production is dependent on costly enhanced oil recovery(EOR)techniques such as steam-assisted gravity drainage(SAGD).Therefore,the goal of this study is to create an artificial neural network(ANN)that is capable of accurately predicting the ultimate recovery factor of oil reservoirs by steam-assisted gravity drainage(SAGD).The developed ANN model featured over 250 unique entries for oil viscosity,steam injection rate,horizontal permeability,permeability ratio,porosity,reservoir thickness,and steam injection pressure collected from literature.The collected data set was entered through a feed-forward back-propagation neural network to train,validate,and test the model to predict the recovery factor of SAGD method as accurate as possible.Results from this study revealed that the neural network was able to accurately predict recovery factors of selected projects with less than 10%error.When the neural network was exposed to a new simulation data set of 64 points,the predictions were found to have an accuracy of 82%as measured by linear regression.Finally,the feasibility of ANN to predict the recovery performance of one of the most complicated enhanced heavy oil recovery techniques with reasonable accuracy was confirmed.

Study of reservoir properties and operational parameters influencing in the steam assisted gravity drainage process in heavy oil reservoirs by numerical simulation

This study was originally aimed at suggesting a two-dimensional program for the Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage(SAGD)process based on the correlations proposed by Heidari and Pooladi,using the MATLAB software.In fact,the work presented by Chung and Butler was used as the basis for this study.Since the steam chamber development process and the SAGD production performance are functions of reservoir properties and operational parameters,the new model is capable of analyzing the effects of parameters such as height variation at constant length,length variation at constant height,permeability variation,thermal diffusivity coefficient variation and well location on the production rate and the oil recovery among which,the most important one is the thermal diffusivity coefficient analysis.To investigate the accuracy and authenticity of the model outcomes,they were compared with the results obtained by Chung and Butler.The privilege of this method over that proposed by Heidari and Pooladi lies in its ability to investigate the effect of thermal diffusivity coefficient on recovery and analyzing the effect of temperature distribution changes on thickness diffusivity.Based on the observations,results reveal that the proposed model gives more accurate predictions compared to the old model proposed by Chung&Butler.

基于非稳态热传导的SAGD开发指标预测模型

根据传热学和热采理论,利用程序设计的方法,对考虑边界效应的SAGD(蒸汽辅助重力泄油)非稳态热传导模型和开发关键指标解析解及开发指标的快速预测进行了研究。研究结果表明:(1)现有的非稳态热传导模型对传热外边界的温度假设存在局限性,根据能量守恒原理修正传热外边界条件,建立传热深度与累积传热量的解析关系,可定量计算上覆和下伏地层的热损失;(2)在巴特勒经典SAGD产量模型基础上,推导的蒸汽腔上升及横向扩展阶段和下压阶段的产水量、油汽比和蒸汽热利用率等解析模型,可实现SAGD特定开发阶段或全生命周期开发关键指标的快速预测;(3)通过与实际指标对比,井组生产6.4 a预测油汽比和含水率的符合率均在95%以上,证实了解析模型和程序设计的可靠性;(4)根据准噶尔盆地风城油田重32井区油藏参数,预测分析的不同油层厚度条件下SAGD蒸汽热利用率和关键开发指标表明,蒸汽热利用率大于35%、油汽比大于0.15对应油层厚度应大于12 m。

重力泄水辅助蒸汽驱开采机理及油藏工程设计

针对辽河油田稠油区块蒸汽吞吐后期产量低、转换开发方式难度大的问题,按照“垂向泄水提高热效率、直平采液提高采注比、水平井注汽提干度、注采泄稳定控制扩波及”的技术思路,开展重力泄水辅助蒸汽驱油藏工程研究,进一步明确开采机理并明确了各阶段开发特征,并对油藏工程关键参数进行优化设计。研究表明:采用上下叠置水平井与直井组合的立体井网,实现了平面蒸汽驱替、垂向重力泄水的渗流模式;重力泄水辅助蒸汽驱立体井网可为蒸汽腔的形成创造良好的条件,有效缓解了深层、特-超稠油埋藏深、沿程热损失大造成的井底蒸汽干度低、注采不同平衡等系列矛盾;重力泄水辅助蒸汽驱可划分为直井、水平井井间热连通,重力泄水辅助蒸汽驱驱替阶段和蒸汽驱调整3个阶段;重力泄水辅助蒸汽驱现场试验取得较好的开发效果,预计汽驱结束采收率可达到58.6%,为深层-特深层稠油开发方式转换提供了新途径。研究成果为同类油藏进一步提高采收率提供了借鉴。

加拿大油砂非凝析气体辅助SAGD开采特征及影响因素研究

常规SAGD开采蒸汽超覆现象严重、蒸汽腔发育不均匀、后期开发效果差,非凝析气体辅助SAGD开采即SAGP(steam and gas push)可有效改善SAGD开发效果,但SAGP开采机理、开发特征和影响因素仍未完全明确。采用室内实验和数值模拟相结合方法,揭示SAGP开采机理,明确蒸汽腔发育、剩余油分布等开发特征,探讨非凝析气体类型、注入方式、注入时机等因素的影响规律。结果表明:非凝析气体可降低稠油黏度和储层顶部热量损失速率,从而提高稠油可流动性和蒸汽热利用效率;SAGP过程中利用二氧化碳的辅助效果优于甲烷和氮气,尽早注入非凝析气体可形成“椭圆形”蒸汽腔;非凝析气体注入速率为4000 m^(3)/d时效果最好,超过该值非凝析气体会抑制蒸汽腔发育;采用段塞式注入非凝析气体效果优于连续式注入方式,最优段塞长度为2个月。研究结果对于加拿大油砂SAGP高效开发具有重要意义。

超稠油油藏直井与水平井组合SAGD技术研究

辽河油田曙一区杜84块兴隆台油层兴Ⅵ组为厚层块状超稠油油藏,50℃下脱气原油黏度大于100Pa.s。针对该油藏的地质特征、原油性质与开发现状,分析了直井与水平井组合蒸汽辅助重力泄油(SAGD)技术的适应性,在现有直井已吞吐多个周期、地层压力已大幅下降的情况下,应用数值模拟技术研究了直井与水平井组合SAGD技术的水平井部署方式并对SAGD注采参数进行了优化。研究结果表明,直井与水平井组合SAGD技术是杜84块兴Ⅵ油层组超稠油油藏蒸汽吞吐后的有效接替技术,可提高原油采收率30%,累计油汽比可达到0.296。最佳的布井方式为水平生产井在两排垂直井中间,且位于侧下方,垂向距离为20m,水平井段长度为280m;井底注汽干度必须大于70%,且生产井排液速度必须与注汽井注汽速度相匹配。

非均质油藏双水平井SAGD三维物理模拟

为了改善双水平井SAGD开发过程受储层非均质性影响的问题,利用自主研发的双水平井双管柱结构三维比例物理模型和已有的注蒸汽三维模拟实验系统,研究了油藏非均质性对SAGD蒸汽腔展布的影响规律。研究结果表明:当储层存在平面非均质性时,双水平井SAGD在开发过程中存在蒸汽腔发育不均匀、水平段油藏动用程度较差等现象,影响了SAGD的开采效果;水平井采用双管柱结构可提高水平段油藏动用程度;合理的注采参数、有效的操作压力、较高的蒸汽干度以及稳定的生产井井底饱和温度与实际温度的差值控制均可有效改善开发效果。根据物理模拟实验的结果总结了双水平井SAGD生产各阶段的注采调控方法,将其应用于油田现场取得了较好的开发效果。

超稠油直井-水平井组合蒸汽辅助重力泄油物理和数值模拟

研究了中深层超稠油油藏在直井蒸汽吞吐中后期,用直井注汽水平井采油的方式转蒸汽辅助重力泄油(steam as-sisted gravity drainage,SAGD)开发的机理。应用高温高压比例物理模拟方法,研究了水平井布于直井斜下方时SAGD蒸汽腔的形成和扩展过程。结果表明,转SAGD的初期以蒸汽驱动作用为主并逐步向重力泄油作用过渡,并可划分为蒸汽吞吐预热、驱替泄油、稳定泄油、衰竭开采4个开采阶段。利用数值模拟优选了布井方式、井网井距、水平井段长度、转SAGD时机和注采参数。该模拟方法在辽河油田杜84块超稠油油藏开发中取得了较好的现场试验效果。

氮气辅助SAGD开采技术优化研究

利用物理模拟及数值模拟方法,研究了在蒸汽辅助重力泄油（SAGD）过程中添加氮气提高顶水超稠油油藏开发效果的生产机理,主要包括：形成隔热层,降低热损失,提高热效率;维持系统压力,改善流度比;降低原油黏度,提高流动能力。优选出了氮气注入方式、氮气与蒸汽比和氮气总注入量。研究结果表明,氮气辅助SAGD开采技术在杜84块馆陶油层开采中是可行的,有利于蒸汽腔的侧向扩展,增加蒸汽的横向波及体积;在SAGD过程中添加氮气能够有效控制顶水下泄,延长SAGD生产时间3~4年,提高了油藏采收率和油汽比。

二氧化碳气体辅助SAGD物理模拟实验

为进一步提高蒸汽辅助重力泄油(SAGD)的开发效果,针对辽河油田杜84块馆陶组超稠油油藏SAGD开采的现状,采用二维物理模拟技术,开展了通过添加CO2气体改善SAGD开发效果的机理及技术可行性实验。实验研究结果表明:CO2气体辅助SAGD开发杜84块馆陶组超稠油油藏在技术上是可行的,超稠油SAGD过程中添加的CO2气体具有非凝析气和溶剂的双重作用机理;从CO2气体辅助SAGD实验的温度场发育数据来看,CO2气体有利于SAGD蒸汽腔的侧向扩展,增加蒸汽的横向波及体积;添加的CO2气体使SAGD的采收率、油/汽比及采油速度都明显提高。同时,进一步研究了添加的CO2气体量对SAGD开发效果的影响程度,初步优化出CO2气体与蒸汽的最佳注入比例为20%。

稠油油藏溶剂辅助蒸汽重力泄油启动物理实验和数值模拟研究

蒸汽辅助重力泄油启动阶段注采井间的有效连通对生产阶段影响较大。现场实践表明,常规蒸汽循环预热时间长,蒸汽消耗量大,热损失严重。为此,设计填砂管注溶剂评价实验装置,通过在不同流速下注入二甲苯溶剂,并对填砂管进行浸泡,评价二甲苯的降粘效果。实验结果表明:随着二甲苯含量的增加,原油粘度显著下降,流动性增强,且无沥青质沉淀产生,当溶剂注入量达到一定值后,降粘效果减弱;油相渗透率随着溶剂注入速度的提高而增大,但增幅逐渐减小;通过带压溶剂浸泡,溶剂向四周扩散,使溶剂的波及面积和降粘范围扩大,油相渗透率增大。新疆A油田某区块的应用结果表明,经溶剂浸泡的井组需要的循环预热时间显著降低,相对缩短60 d左右,节省蒸汽注入量约为4000m^3,转入蒸汽辅助重力泄油生产时,注采井间的连通程度约为85%,取得了较好的连通效果。数值模拟和现场试验结果均表明,蒸汽辅助重力泄油启动阶段注溶剂可缩短蒸汽循环预热时间,减少蒸汽注入量,使注采井间预热均匀,从而提高预热效率和经济效益。

蒸汽辅助重力泄油改善汽腔发育均匀性物理模拟

针对双水平井蒸汽辅助重力泄油(SAGD)蒸汽腔沿水平井长方向欠均匀发育的问题,以国内某油田SAGD先导试验区为原型,设计了一套高温高压双水平井双管柱SAGD三维比例物理模型,对影响SAGD过程的重要油藏参数和操作参数进行了相似比例模化,利用高温高压物理模型进行了3组SAGD蒸汽腔发育实验。实验1:模拟现场趾端处汽腔发育迟缓,汽腔沿井长欠均匀发育的现象;实验2:在实验1的基础上采取注汽井长短管协同注汽-生产井长短管协同采油的调控策略;实验3:在实验1的基础上采取U型井SAGD调控策略。实验结果表明:两种调控策略均能使趾端附近发育缓慢的汽腔恢复发育,对于改善汽腔沿井长方向发育均匀性均有较好效果,调控后产油速率明显提高。

高压环境双水平井SAGD三维物理模拟实验

针对原始地层压力较高且难于在短期内降压的特稠油油藏,为了研究双水平井SAGD在高压环境下的开发效果,利用高温、高压三维物理模拟系统进行了SAGD物理模拟实验,并分析了在原始地层压力较高的特稠油油藏中进行SAGD生产的各项特征。研究结果表明:与低压环境下的SAGD生产过程相比,在高压环境下蒸汽腔发育过程虽然也分为3个阶段,但是蒸汽腔体积小,横向扩展范围有限;生产过程中没有出现稳产阶段,产油速率和油汽比在达到最大值以后迅速降低,大量原油在高含水和低油汽比阶段被产出;生产过程中热损失速率先缓慢、后迅速增加,最后保持稳定,与蒸汽腔发育的3个阶段相对应。根据实验研究结果可知,在高压环境下进行SAGD生产难以取得较为理想的开发效果,低压环境下SAGD开发的采收率远高于高压环境下SAGD的采收率。因此,高压环境下实施SAGD不能有效释放蒸汽潜热从而提高稠油油藏采收率,在能降低油藏压力的条件下,应首先利用适当工艺措施降低油藏平均压力,再实施SAGD开发。

水平井火驱辅助重力泄油燃烧前缘展布与调控

通过三维物理模拟实验研究水平井火驱辅助重力泄油过程中不同阶段燃烧前缘和结焦带的展布规律,并分析各阶段燃烧前缘稳定推进机理及影响因素。燃烧前缘的扩展可分为点火启动、径向扩展和向前推进3个阶段。点火启动阶段,油层上部最先实现点火,点火温度、点火时间和注气速率是该阶段的关键操作参数。径向扩展阶段,燃烧前缘呈"漏斗状"继续向四周和下部扩展,此时调控的关键在于注气速率与燃烧前缘的面积相匹配。燃烧前缘推进到水平井趾端射孔段后,以一定的倾角朝水平井跟部方向推进,超覆式燃烧和结焦带对水平井筒的封堵是该阶段实现稳定泄油的重要原因。在矿场试验中,应从井网模式、点火参数和注采制度等方面采取优化措施来维持燃烧前缘的稳定推进。

高温高压注蒸汽采油三维比例物理模拟新技术

为了解决现有热采物理模拟装置模型热损失大、模型内压控制精度低、实验过程监控不足等问题,自主研制成功了新型高温高压三维比例物理模拟实验装置并提出了注蒸汽采油高温高压三维比例物理模拟实验技术路线。该装置采用热流数值模拟、PID自动控制及三维数据场平面设计方法,重点解决了以下难题并形成特色技术:①采用高温高压热采模型热损失比例模化技术,比例控制模型顶底散热量,实现汽腔持续发育;②采用高温高压三维地层温/压模拟技术,实现模型压力均匀稳定控制,高压舱内各点温差小于±2℃;③采用模型三维数据场在线监测与可视化分析技术,实时监测与调控油藏动态。利用该实验装置开展了特稠油水平井与直井组合热采及超稠油双水平井SAGD(蒸汽辅助重力泄油)三维比例物理模拟实验研究,完整刻画了汽腔发育规律,深化了对双水平井SAGD开采机理和生产动态规律的认识。

微地震监测在新疆稠油SAGD开发中的应用

针对SAGD生产过程中蒸汽腔形态差异大、常规监测方法无法定量描述的问题,运用微地震监测技术,采用滤波、平滑、属性分析、能量梯度分析等多种处理分析手段,对微地震事件进行精确定位,利用直井观察井温度监测资料,对微地震能量场进行标定,圈定了各个井组的蒸汽腔三维边界,测量了蒸汽腔各项参数。研究表明,微地震监测技术可以对SAGD的蒸汽腔发育特征进行实时监测,将微地震监测定量描述结果应用在重32井区FHW106井组,开展直井辅助SAGD生产,水平段动用程度达到80%以上,日产油量由35 t/d上升至85 t/d以上,油汽比达到0.24,采出程度提高9.5个百分点。研究成果对储层非均质性较强的稠油油藏开展SAGD开发具有重要意义。