Cold heavy oil production with sand simulation including wormhole propagation and foamy oil behaviour

Abstract

Cold heavy oil production with sand (CHOPS) is a primary production method used for heavy oil reservoirs with no requirements of external energy consumption. A new model for CHOPS is simulated by incorporating wormhole propagation and foamy oil behaviour mechanisms to evaluate the recovery of an extra-heavy oil reservoir of the Athabasca region. The most critical mechanisms of CHOPS, wormhole propagation and foamy oil behaviour, are captured by using Wang's model for wormhole propagation and Uddin's model of gas exsolution. After 120 months of simulation, 53.38%, 99.76%, and 100% of wormhole propagation were achieved during three time steps of 12, 48, and 60 months, respectively, toward the sides of the studied reservoir section. The propagation was achieved within all directions of the investigated section compatible with the erratic nature of wormhole propagation. Furthermore, the application of Uddin's model was incorporated into production by reducing the fluid viscosity as a result of the foamy oil behaviour. Over 3% of the recovery was achieved at the end of the primary CHOPS phase simulation by taking into account that we modelled the recovery based on highly viscous oil with API 7.5. Finally, the model can provide an improved understanding of the primary CHOPS process by considering its two significant mechanisms.