Controlling Microwave Penetration and Absorption in Heavy Oil Reservoirs

Liao, H.; Morte, Matthew; Bloom, Ernest; Huff, Gregory H.; Hasçakir, Berna

doi:10.2118/190089-ms

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 35 publications

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“…Complex permittivity of the samples is to some extent a volume average of the pore space and the skeletal frame of the sample. Varying the fluid properties helps to clarify dependencies of the overall response on the pore space itself, while simultaneously testing the applicability of the concept with fluids routinely seen in the reservoir rock . The presence of reservoir fluids allows for illumination of the response of cores with greater applicability to the industry to provide for more robust analysis and expand the domain of the experiments.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing the Penetration Depth of Microwave Radiation Using Acoustic Stress to Trigger Piezoelectricity

et al. 2019

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Electromagnetic waves as a mechanism of heat generation in the reservoir is a concept that has great potential to efficiently produce heavy oil and bitumen. However, as a result of large wave attenuation, the penetration depth of the wave is relatively small. This limits the economic viability of an otherwise technically proven technology. Taking advantage of the inherent piezoelectric phenomenon in quartz crystals enables the manipulation of the penetration depth of the wave. Acoustic waves were introduced simultaneously with a microwave to the core samples where the presence of the mechanical wave generated an infinitesimal stress. Mechanical stress achieved by the acoustic wave triggered piezoelectricity in two sandstone samples with a limestone sample serving as the control. All consolidated core samples were fully saturated with either oil or water to capture the effect of the pore space. The incremental stress manifests itself through change in the complex permittivity of the sample measured with a vector network analyzer. The penetration depth of the microwave was calculated as a function of the measured complex permittivity. Comparative analysis of the penetration depth of the varying imposed stress states illustrates the additive penetration achieved due to piezoelectricity. Piezoelectricity as the fundamental mechanism of penetration increase was further demonstrated by isolation of the quartz contribution through use of the limestone. Increase in penetration depth was realized for all oil-saturated sandstone cores. The presence of the acoustic wave introduced a stress component across the quartz crystals, generating a change in the electric potential. This created a dynamic polarization that corresponded to an absorption environment more conducive to microwave penetration.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing the Penetration Depth of Microwave Radiation Using Acoustic Stress to Trigger Piezoelectricity

et al. 2019

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Effect of Crude Oil Composition on Microwave Absorption of Heavy Oils

Liao

Morte

Hasçakir

2019

SPE Western Regional Meeting

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Heat generation in the reservoir by means of electromagnetic wave stimulation offers innate advantage with efficient energy introduction. Transmissibility of heavy oil and bitumen are predicated on decreased viscosity through temperature rise, which makes microwave heating a plausible candidate. This study focuses on identifying the components of the crude oil which primarily contribute to heat generation under the influence of the microwave. Pinpointing what makes the oil a more effective microwave receptor enables the optimization of desirable traits in the oil phase. Three different oil samples were selected due to variations in both physical and dielectric properties. Fractionations were then performed on each oil to isolate the contribution of each SARA (saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes) constituent. Dielectric constant and loss index, which together represent complex permittivity, were measured by utilization of a vector network analyzer (VNA) with a dielectric probe. Complex permittivity of both the bulk oil as well as each fraction were measured for all three oil samples. Also, investigation into asphaltenes behavior in the oil, either precipitated or dispersed, was performed by introducing varying dosages of both precipitating agents (nC5, nC7) and a dispersant (toluene). Within the oil phase, the mutual attraction that is realized by the more polar components, namely the resins and asphaltenes, creates complexities in the absorption behavior. Net cancellation of the individual polarity is evidenced by the non-additive nature of the deasphalted oil and asphaltenes. The attraction between the resins and asphaltenes is further illuminated by inspection of the dielectric response in the presence of the precipitating agents. Removal of asphaltenes through precipitation corresponds to the freeing of interacted resins. The contribution in polarity of the previously cancelled resins is evidenced by an increase in the dielectric constant with increasing precipitating dosage. Both oil C2 and C3 achieve the identified behavior stemming from an asphaltene weight percent comparable to that of the resins. However, upon analysis of the oil C1, the opposite trend is achieved. Unique to oil C1 is a very large weight percent of asphaltenes. Therefore, the oil has excess asphaltenes which aren't interacting with the resins. Precipitation preferentially occurs from those asphaltenes not being interacted as they are relatively less stable. Net cancellation of all resins remains untouched and no resins are freed as a function of the precipitation for oil C1. The foundational impact of polarity on absorption characteristics provides the potential to investigate the efficacy of microwave introduction specific to each fractionation. Experimental results from dielectric property measurements showed that the polar fractions of the crude oil, resins and asphaltenes, heavily influence the effectiveness of microwave heating. For the first time, the contribution of individual SARA fractionations to microwave efficiency was investigated.

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Interpretation of Electromagnetic Wave Penetration and Absorption for Different Reservoir Mineralogy Quartz-Rich, Limestone-Rich, and Clay-Rich and at High and Low Water Saturation Values for a Bitumen Reservoir

Morte

Alhafidh

Hasçakir

2020

Day 2 Tue, September 29, 2020

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Electromagnetic (EM) waves are used in the oil and gas industry to identify the geology of the formation and the type of the fluid saturating the medium. There is also an interest to use the electromagnetic waves as an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method. However, interpretation of logging data generated through electromagnetic waves or determination of the electromagnetic wave propagation in a medium as an EOR method are not easy tasks. This study aims to identify the role of different geological settings with different types of fluid saturations in the response of electromagnetic wave propagation and absorption. To reach this objective multitude-systematic laboratory scale experiments were conducted on different reservoirs fluid and rock pairs. As reservoir mineralogy, different grain size of quartz, clay, or limestone is used to prepare the reservoir rocks at different porosity. Water is known as a good absorber for EM waves, thus, pore space were saturated at different water saturations and a bitumen sample (10,000 cP, 12° API) from Canada. Prepared samples were packed into in-house-built-Plexiglas core holder which allows measurements with EM waves. The response of EM waves propagation and absorption was measured by using a vector network analyzer at varying frequencies (500 MHz to 4 GHz) through dielectric properties (dielectric constant, loss tangent, and penetration depth). The results were used to obtain correlations between dielectric properties and physical properties (reservoir rock mineralogy, porosity, water saturation, and oil saturation) of the reservoir rock-fluid blends. Water saturation gives a perfect correlation with dielectric constant and loss tangent values of the saturated medium. Because dielectric constant and loss tangent parameters provide an idea on the absorption characteristics of EM wave in the medium, and because water is a strong EM wave absorber, as it was expected, with the increase in water saturation, the dielectric constant and loss tangent parameters of the medium are also increased; on the other hand, penetration depth was decreased. With the increase in quartz content in the medium, it has been observed that EM wave penetration is enhanced. As a result, several correlations were created in this study and they can be used to better interpret the reservoir mineralogy and fluid saturation as a response to EM wave logging. Moreover, these results can be used to estimate the effective area (penetration depth) of EM wave as an EOR method in different mediums.

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Controlling Microwave Penetration and Absorption in Heavy Oil Reservoirs

Cited by 4 publications

References 35 publications

Increasing the Penetration Depth of Microwave Radiation Using Acoustic Stress to Trigger Piezoelectricity

Increasing the Penetration Depth of Microwave Radiation Using Acoustic Stress to Trigger Piezoelectricity

Effect of Crude Oil Composition on Microwave Absorption of Heavy Oils

Interpretation of Electromagnetic Wave Penetration and Absorption for Different Reservoir Mineralogy Quartz-Rich, Limestone-Rich, and Clay-Rich and at High and Low Water Saturation Values for a Bitumen Reservoir

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