Steam Flooding after Steam Soak in Heavy Oil Reservoirs through Extended-reach Horizontal Wells

This paper presents a new development scheme of simultaneous injection and production in a single horizontal well drilled for developing small block reservoirs or offshore reservoirs. It is possible to set special packers within the long completion horizontal interval to establish an injection zone and a production zone. This method can also be used in steam flooding after steam soak through a horizontal well. Simulation results showed that it was desirable to start steam flooding after six steam soaking cycles and at this time the oil/steam ratio was 0.25 and oil recovery efficiency was 23.48%. Steam flooding performance was affected by separation interval and steam injection rate. Reservoir numerical simulation indicated that maximum oil recovery would be achieved at a separation section of 40-50 m at steam injection rate of 100-180 t/d; and the larger the steam injection rate, the greater the water cut and pressure difference between injection zone and production zone. A steam injection rate of 120 t/d was suitable for steam flooding under practical injection-production conditions. All the results could be useful for the guidance of steam flooding projects.

Analyzing the effect of steam quality and injection temperature on the performance of steam flooding

The heavy oil reservoirs are currently mainly targeted by thermal enhanced oil recovery technologies,particularly,steam flooding.Steam flooding is carried out by introducing heat into the reservoir to unlock the recovery of heavy oil by reducing oil viscosity.Several investigations were carried out to improve oil recovery by steam flooding.Most recently,high steam flooding is reported as an effective approach to improve recovery in high pressure heavy oil reservoirs.The oil recovery from steam flooding is sub-stantially affected by the steam quality and injection temperature.In this study,an attempt was made to look into the integration of parameters,i.e.steam quality and injection temperature upon steam flooding on oil recovery by using a simulation approach via ECLIPSE.The results obtained indicated that high temperature along with the moderate value of steam quality gives the best result regarding oil recovery for steam flooding in an economical way.

Mechanism investigation of steam flooding heavy oil by comprehensive molecular characterization

Steam flooding is a widely used technique to enhance oil recovery of heavy oil.Thermal viscosity reduction and distillation effect are considered as two main displacement mechanisms in steam flooding process.However,the molecular composition understanding and contribution for oil production are still unclear.In this study,the composition analysis of the heavy oil was investigated in the core scale steam flooding process with the temperature from 120 to 280℃.The crude oil,produced oils and residual oils were characterized comprehensively by gas chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry.It is found that steam flooding preferentially extracts aromatics and remains more resins in the residual oil.Viscosity reduction is the dominant mechanism when steam is injected at a low temperature.Large molecular heteroatoms with high carbon number and high double bond equivalent(DBE)are eluted into the produced oil,while compounds with low carbon number and low DBE are remained in the residual oil.As the steam temperature rises,the increased distillation effect results in the extraction of light hydrocarbons from the residual oil to the produced oil.More small heteroatoms with low carbon number and low DBE enter into the produced oil,especially in the none water cut stage.The compositional difference of produced oils is characterized in DBE versus carbon number distribution of the N and O containing compound classes.This work uses a variety of composition analysis methods to clarify the steam flooding mechanism and provides a novel understanding of steam flooding mechanisms with various temperatures and production stages from the molecular perspective.

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.

Quantitative description of steam channels after steam flooding

Steam channeling is one of the main barriers for EOR after steam flooding.In order to enhance the oil recovery in steam flooded reservoirs,steam channel volumes should be precisely known.In this paper,a set of methods has been established in order to study steam channeling quantitatively by using dynamic data.Firstly,steam channeling wells are identified through curves of watercut and temperature.Then,considering the hysteresis phenomenon,channeling relations are identified with the correlation coefficients between injection wells and production wells under different conditions.Lastly,an analytic model,in which steam condensation,pressure and temperature are considered,is established to calculate the steam channel volumes.A production well named L31615 in some block in Henan Oilfield in China is systematically analyzed by using the method established.The whole block is further analyzed,and the distribution map of steam channels and the steam channel volumes are obtained.The results show that steam channeling does not only occur inside a well group,but also sometimes occurs between wells in different well groups.The calculation of the steam channel volumes provides a theoretical basis for bringing a remedial action like plugging into operation.

Study of steam heat transfer enhanced by CO_(2) and chemical agents: In heavy oil production

Steam flooding with the assistance of carbon dioxide (CO_(2)) and chemicals is an effective approach for enhancing super heavy oil recovery. However, the promotion and application of CO_(2) and chemical agent-assisted steam flooding technology have been restricted by the current lack of research on the synergistic effect of CO_(2) and chemical agents on enhanced steam flooding heat transfer. The novel experiments on CO_(2)–chemicals cooperate affected steam condensation and seepage were conducted by adding CO_(2) and two chemicals (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the betaine temperature-salt resistant foaming agent ZK-05200).According to the experimental findings, a “film” formed on the heat-transfer medium surface following the co-injection of CO_(2) and the chemical to impede the steam heat transfer, reducing the heat transfer efficiency of steam, heat flux and condensation heat transfer coefficient. The steam seepage experiment revealed that the temperature at the back end of the sandpack model was dramatically raised by 3.5–12.8 °C by adding CO_(2) and chemical agents, achieving the goal of driving deep-formation heavy oil. The combined effect of CO_(2) and SDS was the most effective for improving steam heat transfer, the steam heat loss was reduced by 6.2%, the steam condensation cycle was prolonged by 1.3 times, the condensation heat transfer coefficient was decreased by 15.5%, and the heavy oil recovery was enhanced by 9.82%. Theoretical recommendations are offered in this study for improving the CO_(2)–chemical-assisted steam flooding technique.

Organic bases as additives for steam-assisted gravity drainage

Steam-assisted gravity drainage(SAGD)is a mature technology for bitumen recovery from oil sands.However,it is an energy-intensive process that requires large amounts of steam to heat and mobilize bitumen.The purpose of this work is to develop ways to enhance SAGD performance through the use of organic base additives.The research is approached from three focus areas that supplement and guide each other:characterization tests,sand-pack floods,and computational simulation.A number of key mechanisms for enhancing oil recovery were identified,high-temperature additive characterization tests were developed,and promising alkalis were tested in porous media.Simulation was employed to history-match sandpack flood production data,in order to demonstrate the effect of an additive on the oil–water relative permeability.Based on these results,it was concluded that oxygenated organic bases had the most potential for improving bitumen recovery through reducing the oil–water interfacial tension(IFT)by increasing the pH of the system.These organic bases favorably modify the interfacial energies between the immiscible oil–water phases and enable them to flow easily through the porous media during production.Sand-pack flood tests have successfully demonstrated a 10%–15%improvement in bitumen recovery,over baseline,in the presence of IFT-reducing additives.Simulation results further showed that an IFT reduction had a positive impact on SAGD performance.This work demonstrates the potential of organic bases to improve not only SAGD,but other steam injection processes.Furthermore,a number of experimental methods were developed,tried,and tested during the course of this work.

页岩油藏提高采收率技术现状、瓶颈及对策

介绍了页岩油的储量分布、成因及赋存机理,详细概述了页岩油早期勘探、储层改造及后期提采等不同阶段的开发现状。在此基础上,着重综述了当前国内外页岩油藏提高采收率主体技术的应用现状及进展,深入分析了不同页岩油提采技术的优势与不足,同时给出了针对理论认识、技术及经济壁垒的相应策略,最后从不同角度入手,展望了今后页岩EOR的发展前景。

稠油含油污泥凝固剂研制与性能评价

针对稠油开采过程中产生的含油污泥污染环境的问题,以烧黏土、硬石灰为主要原材料研制了含油污泥凝固剂,并以含油污泥凝固剂和含油污泥为主要成分,配制了可在油层凝结固化的含油污泥调剖堵水剂,以达到含油污泥无害化和资源化利用的目的。采用XRD检测和抗压强度测试等手段,对含油污泥调剖堵水剂封堵性能影响因素进行了分析和优化,并评价了其调剖堵水性能。研究表明:该调剖堵水剂具有较长的凝胶时间、良好的施工安全性、可泵注性和适当的结构强度等优点;当含油污泥凝固剂质量分数在17%以上时,岩心封堵率达到98%以上,突破压力在20 MPa以上,具有较高的封堵强度;同时该调剖堵水剂也是一种固体废弃物资源化利用新技术,符合循环经济、绿色发展要求。含油污泥凝固剂技术有效解决了含油污泥外排造成的环境污染问题,为油田综合治理、降低生产成本提供了一种新手段。

多层砂岩油田热采油藏管理提高采收率

概述了美国科恩河油田多层砂岩稠油油藏的特征和开发历史,重点讨论了强化热采油藏管理提高采收率的实践。科恩河油田为水动力圈闭的单斜油藏,蒸汽驱开采后期,碳氧比能谱测井、四维时移热采动态及注采井动态监测结果,孤立单河道砂体识别、追踪,全油田三维地质建模及数值模拟研究为识别剩余油和提高采收率提供了依据。人工智能、蒸汽泡沫驱、双油管完井分层注蒸汽等措施扩大了蒸汽驱波及体积。加密井、水平井钻井及浅部油藏侧钻水平井可大幅度增加可采储量,水平井产量达到相邻直井的3倍以上。为开采油藏下倾部位油水界面附近未动用的“冷油藏”,在下倾部位水层钻产水井泄压,使蒸汽驱得以有效波及到该部位剩余油。

CO_(2)对稠油油藏的物性调控及辅助蒸汽驱提高采收率

为提高稠油油藏蒸汽驱后期开发效率,聚焦“双碳”背景下CCUS-EOR(碳捕集利用和封存体系提高采收率)技术的应用,以克拉玛依油田J6区为研究对象,通过对CO_(2)作用前后的稠油四组分分析,测试饱和压力、膨胀系数、黏度和密度变化情况,探究CO_(2)对稠油物性的调控效果;通过并联岩心物理模拟实验研究CO_(2)辅助蒸汽驱提高采收率效果。研究结果表明:稠油黏度主要受胶质和沥青质含量影响,稠油随着CO_(2)溶解气量的增加,饱和压力由2.08 MPa上升至11.11 MPa,膨胀系数总体呈上升趋势,上升7.6%;同时,黏度降低30.5%,密度减小3.5%。表明CO_(2)在提高饱和压力的同时,通过优化膨胀系数、黏度和密度,有效改善了稠油物性。此外,采用CO_(2)辅助蒸汽驱后,在CO_(2)溶解降黏、破乳的作用下,稠油采收率从38.55%提高至46.46%,相比纯蒸汽驱提高了7.91%。为CO_(2)辅助蒸汽驱提高稠油采收率的应用提供了理论和实验基础,可为同类型稠油油藏提高采收率提供借鉴。

稠油L油藏多轮次吞吐后汽窜通道表征及治理

稠油L油藏经历多轮次蒸汽吞吐后,出现井间汽窜频繁、剩余油分散、周期油气比低等问题,油田稳产难度大。通过总结L油藏的汽窜规律及影响因素,基于数值模拟分析L油藏各小层不同含油饱和度范围内的油藏温度和对应的孔隙体积倍数,定量表征了地下窜流程度。基于定量化的井组汽窜程度研究3种汽窜治理技术的开采效果,包括小区域多井组合吞吐、汽窜通道控制下的变形井网蒸汽驱、氮气泡沫辅助蒸汽驱。结果表明,氮气泡沫辅助变形井网蒸汽驱可有效治理汽窜,当油汽比降至0.1以下时,全区累计产油量为24.87×10^(4)t,采收率为50.76%,研究结果对改善油藏多轮次吞吐后开发效果具有重要作用。

海上过热蒸汽驱受效井耐高温生产管柱工艺研究及应用

渤海A油田多轮次吞吐后转为蒸汽驱开发,开发过程中受效井井底温度高,产液温度高,对井筒完整性、防砂提出了更加严格的要求。为满足海上长期生产需求,如何提高生产管柱整体耐高温性能、降低油套环空温度、降低地面产出液温度是海上过热蒸汽驱受效井工艺研究的关键点。为此,以渤海A油田受效井B1井为例,结合海上油田生产管柱实践经验及工具试验进展,提出了“隔热管柱+环空补液”的工艺思路,进行生产管柱方案优化设计;利用专业软件计算了采用该管柱工艺情况下的井筒沿程温度,相比常规管柱工艺,该管柱工艺提升了整体耐温性能,降低了油套环空温度,保障了井筒安全,为保障海上蒸汽驱受效井安全生产运行奠定坚实基础。

渤海稠油热采开发技术挑战、现状及展望

海上稠油开发成本高、单井累产油要求高,导致渤海部分稠油储量长期未能得到有效开发。针对海上稠油热采的技术瓶颈,渤海油田自2008年建立海上稠油热采先导试验区开展技术攻关,经历单井热采、井组热采、油田规模热采等不同阶段,在“十三五”期间成功实现了南堡35-2和旅大27-2两个稠油先导试验区的开发。在分析渤海稠油资源的基础上,详细阐述了自2020年进入规模化热采阶段以来海上稠油热采在蒸汽吞吐、热气剂多介质辅助吞吐、蒸汽驱、热采配套工艺等方面的关键技术突破与矿场实践,实现了海上稠油热采油田从薄层到厚层、从普通稠油到特超稠油、从边水油藏到顶底水油藏的扩展;攻关形成以蒸汽吞吐、蒸汽驱为主,多介质复合吞吐为辅的渤海稠油热采开发技术体系,助推了渤海2023年建成稠油热采年产85万吨的产量规模。详细梳理了“十四五”期间渤海稠油热采面临的新挑战,以渤海稠油热采中长期产量规划为引领,展望了海上稠油油田热采技术发展趋势,以期为后续海上稠油规模化热采提供借鉴。

母管制抽背式供热汽轮机进水的原因分析及对策

针对母管制抽背式供热汽轮机发生的机组停运后汽缸进水,甚至造成汽轮机转子“抱死”的问题进行研究,分析事故原因。根据该汽轮机供热管网的复杂性,提出防止汽轮机进水和冷蒸汽的措施,可为同类型供热汽轮机进水、进冷汽现象的预防提供借鉴。

胜利油田超稠油蒸汽驱汽窜控制技术

针对超稠油油藏蒸汽驱过程中汽窜严重的问题,开展室内蒸汽驱汽窜控制技术研究,将氮气泡沫与热固性堵剂相结合封堵汽窜,热固性堵剂封堵大孔道,氮气泡沫调整蒸汽的吸汽剖面。优化后的泡沫剂体系300℃阻力因子达到30以上,且对低含油饱和度区域具有选择性封堵作用,适用于超稠油油藏条件下高渗透带的封堵;热固性堵剂在静态120℃可4 h形成固结,150℃可2h有效固结,在蒸汽动态驱替过程中可形成有效封堵。利用双岩心管开展堵调工艺评价研究,结果表明,采用热固性堵剂和氮气泡沫相结合的封堵汽窜方式比单纯应用氮气泡沫提高采收率5.7%,驱替效率整体达到60.8%。2011年在单56超稠油藏进行现场实施,措施后综合含水下降10.2%,生产井井口温度下降15℃,井组日产油量增加28 t以上,单轮次措施有效期198 d,措施增油2 562 t,效果明显。

利用蒸汽超覆作用提高注蒸汽开发效果

利用解析解方法及数值模拟方法,对辽河油田洼38块特稠油油藏注蒸汽开发的热能分布进行了分析,并对有效利用蒸汽及提高注热效果进行了研究。优选出了合理的注采井段,确定了蒸汽的注入方式。综合分析表明,连续注蒸汽的开采方式适合该油藏,下注上采的线性驱动开采方式可以有效地利用蒸汽超覆作用,提高蒸汽的波及体积,进而提高多轮次吞吐阶段油藏的采收率。

稠油油藏蒸汽吞吐后蒸汽驱提高采收率实验

针对高轮次蒸汽吞吐后稠油油藏采出程度不高的实际情况,蒸汽吞吐后在室内进行了蒸汽驱实验,将耐高温的表面活性剂按一定比例随蒸汽注入,结果表明,表面活性剂与蒸汽的比例太大(3:1),蒸汽降粘效果不能达到最佳,较单纯蒸汽驱提高采收率0.55%;表面活性剂与蒸汽的比例太小(0.25:1),起不到降低界面张力和改变润湿性的作用,较单纯的蒸汽驱提高采收率5.43%;表面活性剂和蒸汽比例为0.5:1时,能达到最好的驱油效果,较单纯的蒸汽驱提高采收率9.61%。研究了一个长型油滴在毛细管中的运动,当有表面活性剂存在时,油滴的前后压差和毛细管准数的1/3次方成正比,油滴受到的驱动压力将提高2个数量级,能够很好地保证油滴的运移。

注蒸汽开采稠油过程中H_2S的形成

蒸汽吞吐和蒸汽驱是目前广泛使用的稠油热开采技术,但当该技术用于生产时,由于高温蒸汽对油层的加热,可产生大量的次生型H2S。指出了次生型H2S产生的原因主要为含硫化合物的热裂解(TDS)和硫酸盐热化学还原(TSR)反应等,当储层为浅层砂岩时,硫化氢的产生量与原油的硫含量成正比,如果地层中含有硫酸根离子,地层的高温高压条件有利于TSR反应的进行;生产实践证明热采过程中H2S的形成确实与上述2种原因有关,并且这2种原因又是一个相互联系的统一体。