Casing Integrity Study for Heavy-Oil Production in Cold Lake

Hsu, S. Y.; Searles, K.; Liang, Yueming; Lei, Wang; Dale, Bruce A.; Grueschow, Eric Russell; Spuskanyuk, Alexander; Templeton, E.E.; Smith, Richard James; Lemoing, Daniel R.J.

doi:10.2118/134329-ms

Cited by 9 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 4 publications

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“…On the other hand, the primary focus of the impact of alternating temperatures on casings has been on the steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) technique in heavy oil fields [11]. Maruyama [12] and Hsu [13] conducted statistical analyses of the relationship between the number of damaged casings and the cycles of steam injection. They found a certain correlation between casing damage and the occurrences of thermal cyclic alternating loads and the number of SAGD cycles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Study on Yield Strength Variation Law of Casing Materials under Alternating Thermal–Mechanical Coupling Loads

Lu,

Yang,

Wang

et al. 2024

Processes

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Unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, characterized by low porosity and permeability, often require multistage fracturing techniques for development. The high-pressure fracturing fluids with large volumes can easily cause alternating changes in both temperature and pressure within the casing. Using a theoretical model and field data from hydraulic fracturing operations, this paper calculated the alternating ranges of axial loads and temperatures in the reservoir section. Based on the calculation results, the temperature–load alternating coupling test of the P110 casing was carried out, and the tensile test was performed to analyze the yield strength variation law of the casing material. The results indicate that the yield strength, ultimate strength, and elastic modulus of casing materials are decreased under alternating thermal–mechanical coupling conditions. As the number of alternating cycles increases, there is an initial rapid decrease followed by a slower declining trend. Moreover, the tension–tension (T–T) cycles induce greater reductions in yield strength and ultimate strength than tension–compression (T–C) cycles. Meanwhile, under the same axial load condition, the higher the circulating temperature, the more significant the reduction in yield strength and ultimate strength. In essence, this is the result of the coupling effect of low-cycle fatigue and temperature aging. Finally, based on the experimental data, a yield strength prediction model of the P110 casing under the alternating thermal–mechanical coupling condition was established. The research results provide theoretical guidance for the safe design and material selection of a casing string under multistage volumetric fracturing conditions of shale gas exploration.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Study on Yield Strength Variation Law of Casing Materials under Alternating Thermal–Mechanical Coupling Loads

Lu,

Yang,

Wang

et al. 2024

Processes

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Fatigue-Based Tubular Connection Performance for a CSS Operation

2011

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The Cold Lake heavy oil development, located in northeast Alberta, Canada, began commercial operation in 1985 and uses a thermal recovery process called cyclic steam stimulation (CSS). During steaming and production cycles, the dilation and re-compaction that occur within the reservoir cause the overburden to deform much like the motion of flexing a thick telephone book. At weak overburden layers, shear slip plane(s) can form due to excessive shear stress. Over multiple steaming/production cycles, the cyclic flexing and associated shear slip may lead to overburden casing fatigue failures. In this paper, a multi-scale geomechanics modeling methodology is presented to predict the onset of casing and connection failures due to CSS-induced ultra low cyclic fatigue (ULCF). The modeling methodology consists of building a global model of single or multiple pads, a next level submodel of near-well formation and cement, and a final submodel of casing and connection. To predict the ULCF life, an algorithm based on the concept of cyclic void growth is incorporated into the casing/connection submodel. It provides the capability to predict the number of steam cycles to failure using the concepts of demand (load) and capacity (resistance). A sensitivity study of connection offset to shear slip plane suggested that fatigue life could be extended by placing the connection away from shear slip planes. A series of parametric studies were also conducted to characterize the impact of threaded connection design on fatigue life. Several design scenarios were studied including upset pin, oversized coupling, special clearance coupling, and truncated-length coupling. By selectively reducing the coupling length (truncated) or outer diameter (special clearance), the fatigue life could be prolonged. Based on these promising results, new connection design concepts are being considered for CSS operations in Cold Lake.

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Nabiye Cold Lake Expansion - Leveraging Technology to Create Success

et al. 2011

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The Cold Lake development, located in Alberta, Canada, is the world's largest heavy oil in situ thermal development. At Cold Lake, operated by Imperial Oil Resources, an ExxonMobil affiliate, the Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS) process is used to produce 23,500 m3/d (150 kB/d) of heavy oil. In 2009, Cold Lake produced its one billionth barrel (160 million m3) of heavy oil.The Nabiye project will be the fifth central steam generation and fluid processing hub added at Cold Lake. Nabiye (Dené for Otter) continues the historical Cold Lake development concept of maximizing value through the utilization of a phased development strategy. Relative to current operations, the key reservoir difference at Nabiye is reduced pay thickness. Averaging 12 meters (40 feet), Nabiye pay is about half as thick as the initial pads of the previous expansion (Mahkeses). While reservoir of similar thickness as Nabiye is currently being developed as Productivity Maintenance pads to sustain production in the existing operation, the risk profile for Nabiye is higher because new plant investment is required.As Cold Lake develops more challenging subsurface environments, more advanced reservoir engineering techniques must be employed to mitigate risk. This paper describes the extensive use of both thermal simulation and wellbore integrity modeling to complement analog performance prediction techniques. This paper will demonstrate how the Nabiye project is effectively commercializing an unconventional resource by integrating analog performance data and advanced reservoir and geomechanical modeling. The application of (1) thermal simulation for performance prediction and (2) geomechanical modeling for steam strategy optimization will be presented.

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Casing Integrity Study for Heavy-Oil Production in Cold Lake

Cited by 9 publications

References 4 publications

Experimental Study on Yield Strength Variation Law of Casing Materials under Alternating Thermal–Mechanical Coupling Loads

Experimental Study on Yield Strength Variation Law of Casing Materials under Alternating Thermal–Mechanical Coupling Loads

Fatigue-Based Tubular Connection Performance for a CSS Operation

Nabiye Cold Lake Expansion - Leveraging Technology to Create Success

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