Mobilization of Trapped Residual Oil via Secondary SAGD with Propane

Kar, Taniya; Nezhad, P. B.; Ng, Alwin; Ovalles, César; Benson, Ian Phillip; Hasçakir, Berna

doi:10.2118/185684-ms

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 22 publications

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“…The application of various solvents with steam has been widely investigated. Kar et al 1 studied and analyzed the performance of SAGD and propane-SAGD injection in 2D and 1D physical models. They observed an enhancement in the oil production as well as quality of the produced oil with coinjection of propane and steam due to the better development of the steam chamber.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Solubility and Viscosity Measurements for Methane–, Ethane–, Propane–, and Butane–Athabasca Bitumen Systems at High Temperatures up to 260 °C

et al. 2018

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One of the important mechanisms in solvent-aided thermal recovery processes is viscosity reduction due to dissolution of solvent in the bitumen. This dissolution occurs either with the condensed solvent at the edge of the steam chamber or with direct contact of gaseous solvent and bitumen. Therefore, it is essential to determine the solubility and viscosity of solvent in bitumen for reservoir simulation of solvent-aided thermal recovery processes. We report new experimental viscosity and solubility data of methane−, ethane−, propane−, and butane−Athabasca bitumen systems at high temperatures (up to 260 °C). The experimental measurements have been conducted under liquid−vapor equilibrium conditions. Peng−Robinson Equation of State (PR-EoS) was employed to model the solubility data. The tuned PR-EoS represented the experimental solubility data of methane, ethane, propane, and n-butane in bitumen with absolute average relative deviations of 5.7, 4.1, 7.8, and 4.9%, respectively. The reported data find applications in reservoir simulation studies of the solvent-aided thermal recovery processes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Solubility and Viscosity Measurements for Methane–, Ethane–, Propane–, and Butane–Athabasca Bitumen Systems at High Temperatures up to 260 °C

et al. 2018

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Visualizing Interactions Between Liquid Propane and Heavy Oil

Athar

Yassin

Dehghanpour

2020

Journal of Energy Resources Technology

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In this study, we use a custom-designed visual cell to investigate nonequilibrium interactions between liquid propane (C3(l)) and a heavy oil sample (7.2 deg API) at varying experimental conditions. We inject C3(l) into the visual cell containing the heavy oil sample (pressure-buildup process) and allow the injected C3(l) to interact with the oil sample (soaking process). We measure visual-cell pressure and visualize the C3/heavy oil interactions during the pressure-buildup and soaking processes. Nonequilibrium interactions occurring at the interfaces of C3(l)/heavy oil and C3(l)/C3(g) are recorded with respect to time. The results show that the complete mixing of heavy oil with C3(l) occurs in two stages. First, upward extracting flows of oil components from bulk heavy oil phase toward C3(l) phase form a distinguished layer (L1) during the soaking process. The extracted oil components become denser over time and move downward (draining flows) toward the C3(l)/heavy oil interface due to gravity. The gradual color change of L1 from colorless (color of pure C3(l)) to black suggests the mixing of oil components with C3(l). After L1 appears to be uniform, a second layer (L2) is formed above L1 in the bulk C3(l) phase. Extracting and draining flows become active once again, leading to the mixing of oil components from L1 into L2. At final conditions, heavy oil and C3(l) appear to be mixed and form a single uniform phase.

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Asphaltenes Contribution in Emulsion Formation During Solvent-Steam Processes

Ovalles

Benson

et al. 2018

SPE Western Regional Meeting

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The objective of this paper is to enhance the produced oil quality during solvent-steam flooding processes by using asphaltenes precipitants and environmentally friendly solvents as injection fluid. This way, it is aimed to increase the asphaltene deposition tendency and decrease the emulsion formation severity. Eight one-dimensional core flood experiments were conducted; one steam flooding, three solvent flooding, and four solvent-steam flooding. Five different solvents were tested; propane, n-hexane, toluene, Benzoyl peroxide (BP), and a plant-based environmentally friendly solvent (MS). Solvent and water injection, oil and water production, and temperature along the core flood were continuously measured during each experiment. Both produced oil and residual oil samples were further analyzed to investigate the quality of produced oil samples and the amount of asphaltenes deposited on spent rock. An ASTM method which uses n-pentane was implemented to separate asphaltenes from both produced and residual oil samples. The water content of produced and residual oil samples was determined through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the water-in-oil emulsion content of produced oil samples was visualized with an optical microscope. To understand the impact of each SARA (Saturates, Aromatics, Resins, and Asphaltenes) fractions on produced oil quality during solvent-steam processes, every fraction was exposed to liquid or vapor water and examined under a microscope. It has been observed that stability of asphaltenes and emulsions varies in the presence of vapor or liquid water. Aromatics and Resins fractions are the main contributors of water-in-oil emulsion formation, and emulsion formation is enhanced with the addition of asphaltenes. Vapor-water (steam) promotes the formation of more severe emulsions than liquid-water. Hence, the emulsion formation mechanism was predicted to start with a foam-formation step in where the vapor steam diffuses into the liquid crude before condensing to form liquid water droplets, and then, forming an emulsion at lower temperatures. Since asphaltenes insoluble solvents were used, diffusion of steam occurs mostly in deasphalted oil and mainly in aromatics and resins.

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Mobilization of Trapped Residual Oil via Secondary SAGD with Propane

Cited by 4 publications

References 22 publications

New Solubility and Viscosity Measurements for Methane–, Ethane–, Propane–, and Butane–Athabasca Bitumen Systems at High Temperatures up to 260 °C

New Solubility and Viscosity Measurements for Methane–, Ethane–, Propane–, and Butane–Athabasca Bitumen Systems at High Temperatures up to 260 °C

Visualizing Interactions Between Liquid Propane and Heavy Oil

Asphaltenes Contribution in Emulsion Formation During Solvent-Steam Processes

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