Abstract:Summary
We demonstrate the effectiveness of a non-Arrhenius kinetic upscaling approach for in-situ-combustion processes, first discussed by Kovscek et al. (2013). Arrhenius reaction terms are replaced with equivalent source terms that are determined by a work flow integrating both laboratory experiments and high-fidelity numerical simulations. The new formulation alleviates both stiffness and grid dependencies of the traditional Arrhenius approach. Consequently, the computational efficiency and … Show more
“…Kovscek et al [77][78][79] have developed a procedure for upscaling of reaction kinetics called Work-flow-based Upscaling-for Grid-Independence (WUGI). The procedure involves six steps: (1) selection of reaction model, (2) fitting of reaction model to kinetic cell and combustion tube experiments, (3) obtaining estimates for fuel-deposition fraction , (4) running highfidelity 1D simulations to obtain reference solutions for , (5) running two-dimensional (2D) simulations to assess the impact on of variations in heterogeneity and (6) assignment of the fuel amount in each grid block of a field-scale simulation using the local conditions and data assembled from sensitivity studies.…”
Section: Gas Mole Fractionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The procedure involves six steps: (1) selection of reaction model, (2) fitting of reaction model to kinetic cell and combustion tube experiments, (3) obtaining estimates for fuel-deposition fraction χ , (4) running high-fidelity 1D simulations to obtain reference solutions for χ , (5) running two-dimensional (2D) simulations to assess the impact on χ of variations in heterogeneity and (6) assignment of the fuel amount in each grid block of a field-scale simulation using the local conditions and data assembled from sensitivity studies. 79 Figure 13 shows a comparison of 2D simulations using the conventional Arrhenius kinetics and the WUGI upscaling approach with grid blocks of different sizes. Figure 13.In situ combustion upscaling in horizontal 2D 1/4 five spot case (from Zhu et al.…”
The total worldwide resources of oil sands, heavy oil, oil shale and coal far exceed those of conventional light oil. In situ combustion and gasification are techniques that can potentially recover the energy from these unconventional hydrocarbon resources. In situ combustion can be used to produce oil, especially viscous and immobile crudes, by heating the oil and reducing the viscosity of the hydrocarbon liquids allowing them to flow to production wells. In situ gasification can be used to convert deep carbonaceous materials into synthesis gas which can be used at surface for power generation and petrochemical applications. While both in situ combustion for oil recovery and in situ gasification of coal have been developed and demonstrated over many decades, the commercial applications of these techniques have been limited to date. There are many physical processes occurring during in situ combustion, including multi-phase flow, heat and mass transfer, chemical reactions in porous media and geomechanics. A key tool in analysing and optimising the technologies involves using numerical models to simulate the processes. This paper presents a brief review of mathematical modelling of in situ combustion and gasification with an emphasis on developing a generalised framework and describing some of the key challenges and opportunities.
“…Kovscek et al [77][78][79] have developed a procedure for upscaling of reaction kinetics called Work-flow-based Upscaling-for Grid-Independence (WUGI). The procedure involves six steps: (1) selection of reaction model, (2) fitting of reaction model to kinetic cell and combustion tube experiments, (3) obtaining estimates for fuel-deposition fraction , (4) running highfidelity 1D simulations to obtain reference solutions for , (5) running two-dimensional (2D) simulations to assess the impact on of variations in heterogeneity and (6) assignment of the fuel amount in each grid block of a field-scale simulation using the local conditions and data assembled from sensitivity studies.…”
Section: Gas Mole Fractionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The procedure involves six steps: (1) selection of reaction model, (2) fitting of reaction model to kinetic cell and combustion tube experiments, (3) obtaining estimates for fuel-deposition fraction χ , (4) running high-fidelity 1D simulations to obtain reference solutions for χ , (5) running two-dimensional (2D) simulations to assess the impact on χ of variations in heterogeneity and (6) assignment of the fuel amount in each grid block of a field-scale simulation using the local conditions and data assembled from sensitivity studies. 79 Figure 13 shows a comparison of 2D simulations using the conventional Arrhenius kinetics and the WUGI upscaling approach with grid blocks of different sizes. Figure 13.In situ combustion upscaling in horizontal 2D 1/4 five spot case (from Zhu et al.…”
The total worldwide resources of oil sands, heavy oil, oil shale and coal far exceed those of conventional light oil. In situ combustion and gasification are techniques that can potentially recover the energy from these unconventional hydrocarbon resources. In situ combustion can be used to produce oil, especially viscous and immobile crudes, by heating the oil and reducing the viscosity of the hydrocarbon liquids allowing them to flow to production wells. In situ gasification can be used to convert deep carbonaceous materials into synthesis gas which can be used at surface for power generation and petrochemical applications. While both in situ combustion for oil recovery and in situ gasification of coal have been developed and demonstrated over many decades, the commercial applications of these techniques have been limited to date. There are many physical processes occurring during in situ combustion, including multi-phase flow, heat and mass transfer, chemical reactions in porous media and geomechanics. A key tool in analysing and optimising the technologies involves using numerical models to simulate the processes. This paper presents a brief review of mathematical modelling of in situ combustion and gasification with an emphasis on developing a generalised framework and describing some of the key challenges and opportunities.
“…The use of dynamic gridding still has not fully solved the demanding grid size problem in field-scale ISC simulations. In recent years, a novel reaction upscaling method has been proposed in order to minimize the grid size effect in fieldscale ISC simulations [14,15]. Both the temporal and spatial scales of kinetics and advection are very different in the ISC process.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In this study, we choose D block as the case of study to show the simulation of the ISC process from laboratory to field scale. Based on the methodology proposed in our previ-ous work [4,14,15], we present a comprehensive case study on the simulation of heavy oil in-situ combustion from laboratory experiment to field-scale simulation. It includes kinetic cell (RTO) and combustion tube laboratory experiments, establishing kinetic reaction model, history match of experiments, and finally field-scale simulation using the proposed upscaled reaction model.…”
In-situ combustion simulation from laboratory to field scale has always been challenging, due to difficulties in deciding the reaction model and Arrhenius kinetics parameters, together with erroneous results observed in simulations when using large-sized grid blocks. We present a workflow of successful simulation of heavy oil in-situ combustion process from laboratory to field scale. We choose the ongoing PetroChina Liaohe D block in-situ combustion project as a case of study. First, we conduct kinetic cell (ramped temperature oxidation) experiments, establish a suitable kinetic reaction model, and perform corresponding history match to obtain Arrhenius kinetics parameters. Second, combustion tube experiments are conducted and history matched to further determine other simulation parameters and to determine the fuel amount per unit reservoir volume. Third, we upscale the Arrhenius kinetics to the upscaled reaction model for field-scale simulations. The upscaled reaction model shows consistent results with different grid sizes. Finally, field-scale simulation forecast is conducted for the D block in-situ combustion process using computationally affordable grid sizes. In conclusion, this work demonstrates the practical workflow for predictive simulation of in-situ combustion from laboratory to field scale for a major project in China.
“…Furthermore, given that Petrobank had experienced excessive sand production that might have also hindered and thus limited the flow rates of the mobilised upgraded oil into the HP well, lack of understanding of physicochemical and fluid dynamics inside the reservoir could very well be to blame for the failure to establish the well-structured combustion front and to achieve high oil production rates. In fact, multiple studies (Ado 2020a, b;Kovscek et al 2013;Nissen et al 2015) have shown that laboratory-scale validated numerical models are incapable of predicting the physicochemical transport processes in field-scale reservoirs. However, what these studies did not observe and show are the differences especially in terms of reservoir flow dynamics between the laboratoryscale and the field-scale models.…”
The technical and economic validities of the toe-to-heel air injection (THAI) process for heavy oils upgrading and production are yet to be fully realised even though it has been operated at laboratory, pilot, and semi-commercial levels. The findings from Canadian Kerrobert THAI project suggested that there is no proportionality between oil production and air injection rates. However, this conclusion was reached without having to dig deeper into the dynamics of the transport processes inside the reservoir especially that efficient combustion was clearly taking place as the mol% oxygen in the produced gas was negligible. As a result, this study is conducted with aims of identifying the similarities and differences of the dynamics of the transport processes in lab-scale and field-scale reservoirs. For the first time, this study has found oil drainage dynamics inside the reservoir to be both scale-dependent and operation-dependent. For the laboratory-scale numerical model E, what is clearest is that all of the head of the oil flux vectors are either totally vertically directed or slightly inclined and pointing upward towards the heel. None of them is pointing backward towards the toe of the HP well. Thus, it is apparent that oil drainage pattern in this laboratory-scale model E is efficient as all the mobilised upgraded oil, including from the base of the combustion cell, is produced as the combustion front advances in the toe-to-heel manner. However, the combustion front has a backward-leaning shape which is an indicator that it is propagating even inside the HP well. This implies that the process is operating in an unstable, inefficient, and unsafe mode. These two opposing patterns at laboratory-scale must be resolved to ensure healthy combustion front propagation with efficient oil drainage and production rates are achieved. At the field scale (i.e. model F), this study has shown for the first time that there are actually two mobile oil zones: the one ahead of the combustion front with lower oil flux magnitude (i.e. MOZ) and the one containing large pool of mobilised partially upgraded oil at the base of the reservoir just behind the toe of the HP well. The above findings in model F show that there is conflicting dynamics about the goal of achieving large oil production rates downstream of the combustion front with the propagation of forward-tilting stable, safe, and efficient combustion front. If the combustion is to be optimally sustained, then most of the mobilised upgraded oil might be lost going in the wrong direction towards the region behind the toe of the HP well. In actual reservoir in the field, shale with very low permeability and porosity must be present behind the toe in order for the large pool of mobilised upgraded oil that is continuously draining from the vertical adjacent planes to be forced into the toe of the HP well. As a result, to balance these two conflicting dynamics of upward-tilted combustion front going longitudinally towards the heel of the HP well and the mobilised oil draining down at an angle towards the region behind the toe of the HP well, future studies are essentially required. These are proposed and also listed under the conclusion section in order to ensure thorough design and operation procedures for the THAI process are established.
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