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Title: A sensitivity study of the effect of tar sand and oil-phase properties on the wet forward combustion of the Asphalt Ridge resource

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7110370· OSTI ID:7110370

The Tar Sand Reservoir Simulator (TSRS) is used to numerically evaluate the sensitivity of thermal recovery performance to physical properties of fluids and tar sand. The sensitivity of these properties is determined by comparing the results of a series of simulations to a realistic base simulation. The thermal process considered for this study is the wet forward combustion of Asphalt Ridge tar sand in an adiabatic tube reactor. The physical properties evaluated include oil-phase viscosity, oil-component volatility, relative permeability, absolute permeability, tar sand porosity, and tar sand thermal conductivity. The results of this study indicate that the most sensitive fluid properties are oil-phase viscosity and relative permeability to gas. Absolute tar sand permeability and porosity also have a significant effect on recovery performance. Of the thermal recovery performance parameters evaluated, injection pressure and fuel composition are the most responsive. Total oil yield is relatively insensitive to the changes in properties investigated in this study. 10 refs., 23 figs., 14 tabs.

Research Organization:
Western Research Inst., Laramie, WY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/FE
DOE Contract Number:
FC21-86MC11076
OSTI ID:
7110370
Report Number(s):
DOE/MC/11076-2762; ON: DE90000416
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English