An assessment of two novel, steamdrive recovery processes for heavy oil reservoirs is presented. processes for heavy oil reservoirs is presented. Special experimental procedures were designed and used to assess and compare steamdrive recovery processes using a HAS-pipe or a sand-filled channel processes using a HAS-pipe or a sand-filled channel (SFMC) in a simulated tar sand field. It was found that temperature development and distribution of saturation progress more uniformly around the HAS-pipe than around the sand-filled channel, and this could explain higher initial recovery rates observed for SFMC than for the HAS Drive process. A multicomponent thermal numerical model was first validated against laboratory experiments and was then used to assess the influence of reservoir properties such as formation depth and oil viscosity, on recovery processes employing either (SFMC) or HAS Drive-hot pipe strategies. The effectiveness of each process was assessed using the final recovery and diagrams of the key characteristics of oil-steam ratio versus running time. The results indicate that for shallow heavy oil reservoirs the HAS Drive process can be more effective than the SFMC process. The situation is reversed for higher permeabilities and deeper formations, where a better chance of effectively recovering the viscous oil is indicated for the SFMC process. process. A new steamdrive recovery process employing a HAS-pipe embedded in a sand channel is suggested for shallow heavy oil formations. This process was analyzed and compared to both the SFMC and HAS Drive recovery processes. Background The Heated Annulus Steam Drive (HAS Drive) process was conceived in 1973 to render the heavy and process was conceived in 1973 to render the heavy and extra-heavy immobile oil found in large quantities in reservoirs in Alberta and Saskatchewan as well as in USA, sufficiently mobile to sustain a continuous injection of thermal fluids. Since 1973, the HAS Drive process has been investigated in the laboratory using physical simulators and is now being tested in an tar sand formation, in the Athabasca deposit. The Sand-Filled Multi-level Channels (SFMC) process was suggested in 1987 as an effective process was suggested in 1987 as an effective method for rapidly heating the reservoir and controlling fluid communication. Both the HAS Drive and the SFMC processes can be efficiently implemented in the field using novel horizontal drilling technologies. Both methods, using steam injected below fracture pressure, make it possible to confidently design and optimize a possible to confidently design and optimize a recovery process by completing the pay zone with one or several levels of man-made, hot fluid communications. This eliminates the difficult-to-predict fluid injectivities and fluid distribution by fracturing/ parting of the unconsolidated formation. parting of the unconsolidated formation. Controlled by the externally applied pressure drop and by progressive heating of the formation surrounding the HAS-pipe or the Sand-Filled channel, the recovery process will develop almost independently from the gravity drainage mechanism. Oil Steam Ratio In the past, much attention was dedicated to finding methods for enhancing final recovery. P. 425
Copyrighl 19S6,Societyof Petroleum EngineersThispaper waa prepared for presentation at the 56th California Re3ional Meeting of me Society of Petroleum Engineers held m Oakland, CA, April 2-4, 19se.This paper wee selected for presentation by an SPE Program CommitteS foltilng re rlew of informsdiin contained in an abstract eutsmitted W the author(a). Contenta of the paper, aa preeented, have not been reviewed by the Society of petroleum Engineers and are subject 10 eorrecfion b the author(s). The material, ae preeented, does not necessarily refhcl any Poeition Of the SociefY of petroleum En9ineers, its officers, or mambem. PWra presented at SPE meetinge are subject to publication review by Ediforial Commitfeee of the Sodefy of Petroleum Engineere. Permission to copy ie restricted to an abatrect of not more Ihan 300 words. Illustrative may d be COP~. The abatract shoufd Contain con-~ua ack-ment of where and by whom !he paper ie p:euented. Write Publication Manager, SPE, PO. Sox S33S3S, Richardson, TX 7SC83-SSSS. Telax, 730SSS, SPEDAL.
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