A semi-analytical thermal model for linear steam drive

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6091370

Gajdica, R J

Thermal recovery by steam injection has proven to be an effective means of recovering heavy oil. Thermal numerical models are available to provide forecasts. However, these models are expensive and consume a great deal of computer time. An alternative to numerical modeling is to use an analytical model. Analytical models are fast, but the assumptions necessary to generate the solutions may lead to poor results. Common assumptions in analytical models are: (1) a horizontal reservoir, (2) incompressible oil, water, and formation, and (3) no thermal expansion of the oil, water, and formation. A semianalytical model (SAM) has been developed for one-dimensional linear systems and two-dimensional linear cross-sectional systems. Wells are located at both ends of the reservoir. At the injection well, wet steam is injected at a constant rate and enthalpy. The production well produces at a constant flowing bottomhole pressure. The SAM includes formation dip, compressible formation, water, and oil, and thermal expansion of the formation, water, and oil. The model automatically calculates the steam zone steam saturation and includes the water front and overburden heat losses. The two-dimensional model also includes gravity override of steam, a new empirical method which determines the shape of the steam front, and an extension of an existing water flooding correlation to determine the volumetric sweep efficiency for the reservoir. Many cases were run on both the SAM and a numerical model. The Computer Modelling Group's general purpose thermal simulator ISCOM was used for comparisons. The SAM runs were several orders of magnitude faster than the thermal simulator, yet matched thermal simulator results accurately in over 2,000 runs over a wide range of variables. The result is a computer program that can be run on a personal computer by a field engineer.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6091370
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ANALOG SYSTEMS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COMPUTERS
DIGITAL COMPUTERS
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ENTHALPY
EXPANSION
FLOW RATE
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GRAVITATION
HEAT LOSSES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW
INJECTION WELLS
LOSSES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICROCOMPUTERS
OIL WELLS
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONAL COMPUTERS
PETROLEUM
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESERVOIR FLUIDS
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR ROCK
SATURATION
SIMULATION
SIMULATORS
STEAM INJECTION
THERMAL EXPANSION
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VISCOSITY
WATER
WELLS