Effects of Reservoir Heterogeneities, Thief Zone, and Fracture Systems on the Fast-SAGD Process

Autor: Zhangxin Chen, T. Q. C. Dang, T. B. N. Nguyen, Wisup Bae
Rok vydání: 2014
Předmět:
Zdroj: Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects. 36:1710-1725
ISSN: 1556-7230
1556-7036
DOI: 10.1080/15567036.2010.544007
Popis: This study presented a numerical investigation for evaluating the potential applicability of Fast-steam-assisted gravity drainage recovery process under complex reservoir conditions, such as shale barriers, thief zones with bottom and/or top water layers, and fracture systems in Clearwater formation. The simulation results indicated that the near well regions are very sensitive with shale layers and only long, continuous shale barriers (larger than 50 m or 25%), which can effect Fast-steam-assisted gravity drainage performance at the above well regions. Besides that, the thief zones have a strongly detrimental effect on Fast-steam-assisted gravity drainage. The results also proved that Fast-steam-assisted gravity drainage recovery process enhanced in the presence of vertical fractures, but horizontal fractures were harmful on the recovery. This article is a worthy guideline for Fast-steam-assisted gravity drainage operations in complex geological reservoirs.
Databáze: OpenAIRE