Coupled geomechanics and flow modeling of thermally induced compaction in heavy oil diatomite reservoirs under cyclic steaming
Abstract
We report shallow, heavy oil diatomite reservoirs produced using cyclic steaming are often associated with significant subsidence. In cases where the pore pressure is not allowed to deplete noticeably, observed subsidence suggests a mechanism other than pressure decline is responsible. We perform coupled flow and geomechanics modeling to determine whether thermally induced compaction of the reservoir rock could play an important role in subsidence. First, we model laboratory-scale tests on diatomite samples subjected to mechanical and thermal loads. During these tests, substantial non-recoverable thermal compaction was measured. Using the modified Cam-clay model as a basis, thermally induced compaction is implemented by reducing the size of the yield surface as a function of temperature. This leads to a satisfactory modeling of the test results. Second, this new approach is used to model a symmetric pattern of wells in a generic heavy oil diatomite field produced using cyclic steaming. Results from simulations that consider or neglect thermally induced diatomite compaction show that thermal effects can potentially induce significant inelastic pore volume reduction and substantial subsidence.
- Authors:
-
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1474975
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1396993
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-05CH11231
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 147; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0920-4105
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 58 GEOSCIENCES; diatomite; heavy oil; cyclic steaming; thermally induced compaction; ground displacement; coupled modeling
Citation Formats
Blanco-Martín, Laura, Rutqvist, Jonny, Doughty, Christine, Zhang, Yingqi, Finsterle, Stefan, and Oldenburg, Curtis M. Coupled geomechanics and flow modeling of thermally induced compaction in heavy oil diatomite reservoirs under cyclic steaming. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.petrol.2016.09.002.
Blanco-Martín, Laura, Rutqvist, Jonny, Doughty, Christine, Zhang, Yingqi, Finsterle, Stefan, & Oldenburg, Curtis M. Coupled geomechanics and flow modeling of thermally induced compaction in heavy oil diatomite reservoirs under cyclic steaming. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2016.09.002
Blanco-Martín, Laura, Rutqvist, Jonny, Doughty, Christine, Zhang, Yingqi, Finsterle, Stefan, and Oldenburg, Curtis M. Thu .
"Coupled geomechanics and flow modeling of thermally induced compaction in heavy oil diatomite reservoirs under cyclic steaming". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2016.09.002. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1474975.
@article{osti_1474975,
title = {Coupled geomechanics and flow modeling of thermally induced compaction in heavy oil diatomite reservoirs under cyclic steaming},
author = {Blanco-Martín, Laura and Rutqvist, Jonny and Doughty, Christine and Zhang, Yingqi and Finsterle, Stefan and Oldenburg, Curtis M.},
abstractNote = {We report shallow, heavy oil diatomite reservoirs produced using cyclic steaming are often associated with significant subsidence. In cases where the pore pressure is not allowed to deplete noticeably, observed subsidence suggests a mechanism other than pressure decline is responsible. We perform coupled flow and geomechanics modeling to determine whether thermally induced compaction of the reservoir rock could play an important role in subsidence. First, we model laboratory-scale tests on diatomite samples subjected to mechanical and thermal loads. During these tests, substantial non-recoverable thermal compaction was measured. Using the modified Cam-clay model as a basis, thermally induced compaction is implemented by reducing the size of the yield surface as a function of temperature. This leads to a satisfactory modeling of the test results. Second, this new approach is used to model a symmetric pattern of wells in a generic heavy oil diatomite field produced using cyclic steaming. Results from simulations that consider or neglect thermally induced diatomite compaction show that thermal effects can potentially induce significant inelastic pore volume reduction and substantial subsidence.},
doi = {10.1016/j.petrol.2016.09.002},
journal = {Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering},
number = C,
volume = 147,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Sep 08 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Thu Sep 08 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}
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