Advanced Methods of Thermal Petrophysics as a Means to Reduce Uncertainties during Thermal EOR Modeling of Unconventional Reservoirs

Abstract

Within the vast category of unconventional resources, heavy oils play an essential role as related resources are abundant throughout the world and the amount of oil produced using thermal methods is significant. Simulators for thermo–hydro–dynamic modeling, as a mandatory tool in oilfield development, are continuously improving. However, the present paper shows that software capabilities for the integration of data on the rock thermal properties necessary for modeling are limited, outdated in some aspects, and require revision. In this paper, it is demonstrated that a characteristic lack of reliable data on rock thermal properties also leads to significant errors in the parameters characterizing oil recovery efficiency. A set of advanced methods and equipment for obtaining reliable data on thermal properties is presented, and a new, vast set of experimental data on formation thermal properties obtained from the Karabikulovskoye heavy oil field (Russia) is described. The time-dependent results of modeling oil recovery at the field segment using the steam-assisted gravity drainage method with both published and new data are discussed. It is shown that the lack of experimental data leads to significant errors in the evaluation of the cumulative oil production (up to 20%) and the cumulative steam/oil ratio (up to 52%).

A Summary of “Petrophysics and Geochemistry of Unconventional Reservoirs”

“…Pedentchouk et al [5] investigate the magnitude and direction of stable carbon and hydrogen isotope shifts of n-C 15-30 alkanes from a series of biodegraded oils sourced from kerogen Type II and mixed kerogen Type II/III. Compound-specific isotope data show a moderate 13 C-enrichment and no D-enrichment of n-alkanes in the most biodegraded oils from both types of source rocks. The authors conclude that the relatively homogeneous and sustained nature of C isotope composition of n-alkanes maintained during in-reservoir biodegradation indicates that these compounds have a good potential as a supplementary tool for oil-oil and oil-source rock correlation even in biodegraded oils.…”

“…The combination of several independent laboratory techniques allows specialists to determine the parameters that can be used for the verification of hydraulic fracturing models. Chekhonin et al [13] describe a full set of advanced methods and equipment for obtaining reliable data on thermal properties at atmospheric and reservoir conditions, as well as a new, vast set of experimental data obtained from the Karabikulovskoye heavy oil field (Russia). The results of comparing obtained data with those published, as well as the findings from long-term authors' study in thermal petrophysics, clearly indicate the traditional underestimation of the existing uncertainty in data on the thermal properties used for modeling.…”

Petrophysical characterization and thermal conductivity prediction of serpentinized peridotites

“…Among the physical properties of materials, thermal conductivity and heat capacity are essential parameters for understanding and modelling different structures from the reservoir scale to the lithosphere scale and passing through the basin scale. Thus, these characteristics are crucial for the study of energy geosystems such as geothermal systems (Deo et al 2014;Förster et al 2015;Omodeo-Salé et al 2020), energy storage (Clauser 2011), heavy oil recuperation (Chekhonin et al 2021) and waste storage or transfer to surface environments (Krzeminska et al 2012). These features are also crucial for the study of continental and oceanic lithosphere structure and transfers (Clauser et al 1997;Mckenzie et al 2005;Hieronymus & Goes 2010), which can condition the distribution of crustal or lithospheric scale structures or the rheology of these structures (Duretz et al 2014).…”

“…Significant variability has been measured both at the sample scale (Surma & Geraud 2003;Haffen et al 2017) and at the borehole scale (Pribnow & Sass 1995;Hartmann et al 2005;Mottaghy et al 2005;Haffen et al 2013). This variability is also significant as a function of temperature and pressure (Vosteen & Schellschmidt 2003;Chang et al 2017;Chekhonin et al 2021) and as the H 2 O contents of the mineral phases (Chang et al 2017;Zhang et al 2019). Nevertheless, petrophysical properties of peridotites these characteristics remain rather poorly documented compared to other physical properties.…”