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Understanding the Impact of Reservoir Low-Permeability Subdomains in the Steam Injection Process

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  • Beatriz dos Santos Santana

    (Postgraduation Program of Chemical Engineering PPGEQ-ITEC-UFPA, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
    Petroleum Science and Engineering Laboratory, Federal University of Pará, Raimundo Santana Cruz Street, Salinópolis 68721-000, PA, Brazil)

  • Lorena Cardoso Batista

    (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Campinas, Mendeleyev Street, 200, Campinas 13083-860, SP, Brazil)

  • Edson de Andrade Araújo

    (Petroleum Engineering Academic Unit, Federal University of Campina Grande, R. Aprígio Veloso, 882, Campina Grande 58429-900, PB, Brazil)

  • Cláudio Regis dos Santos Lucas

    (Petroleum Science and Engineering Laboratory, Federal University of Pará, Raimundo Santana Cruz Street, Salinópolis 68721-000, PA, Brazil)

  • Daniel Nobre Nunes da Silva

    (Postgraduation Program of Chemical Engineering PPGEQ-ITEC-UFPA, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
    Petroleum Science and Engineering Laboratory, Federal University of Pará, Raimundo Santana Cruz Street, Salinópolis 68721-000, PA, Brazil)

  • Pedro Tupã Pandava Aum

    (Postgraduation Program of Chemical Engineering PPGEQ-ITEC-UFPA, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
    Petroleum Science and Engineering Laboratory, Federal University of Pará, Raimundo Santana Cruz Street, Salinópolis 68721-000, PA, Brazil)

Abstract

Optimizing production in the mature fields of heavy oil reservoirs is still challenging. In most cases, conventional recovery techniques are not effective, although they are suitable for applying thermal recovery methods. Steam injection involves injecting steam into the reservoir where the heat exchange with the oil occurs. This promotes a reduction in oil viscosity and thus increases its mobility. One of the challenges of the EOR project is understanding how the presence of regions with contrasting properties, such as fractures, caves, and barriers, could affect the steam flow. This work investigates the impact of low-permeability barriers in the steam injection process. The barriers were created on a semi-synthetic reservoir characteristic of Brazilian onshore mature fields. We used the three-phase pseudo-compositional reservoir simulation STARS (Steam Thermal Advanced Processes Reservoir Simulation) for simulations. Our results show that the shape, number, and arrangement of barriers in a porous medium can affect the amount of oil recovered. They may also be able to anticipate or delay oil production.

Suggested Citation

  • Beatriz dos Santos Santana & Lorena Cardoso Batista & Edson de Andrade Araújo & Cláudio Regis dos Santos Lucas & Daniel Nobre Nunes da Silva & Pedro Tupã Pandava Aum, 2023. "Understanding the Impact of Reservoir Low-Permeability Subdomains in the Steam Injection Process," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-13, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:2:p:639-:d:1025807
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Oscar E. Medina & Yira Hurtado & Cristina Caro-Velez & Farid B. Cortés & Masoud Riazi & Sergio H. Lopera & Camilo A. Franco, 2019. "Improvement of Steam Injection Processes Through Nanotechnology: An Approach through in Situ Upgrading and Foam Injection," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-21, December.
    2. Jun Ni & Xiang Zhou & Qingwang Yuan & Xinqian Lu & Fanhua Zeng & Keliu Wu, 2017. "Numerical Simulation Study on Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage Performance in a Heavy Oil Reservoir with a Bottom Water Zone," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-24, December.
    3. Yanfang Gao & Xiaoyang Wang & Hailong Jiang & Shuaiwei Ding, 2022. "Numerically Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Analyses of Ultra-Heavy Oil Reservoirs during the Micro-Fracturing Stage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, May.
    4. Xudong Chen & Xiang Rao & Yunfeng Xu & Yina Liu, 2022. "An Effective Numerical Simulation Method for Steam Injection Assisted In Situ Recovery of Oil Shale," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    5. Chao Wang & Yongbin Wu & Chihui Luo & Youwei Jiang & Yunjun Zhang & Haoran Zheng & Qiang Wang & Jipeng Zhang, 2022. "Experimental Study and Numerical Simulation of an Electrical Preheating for SAGD Wells in Heavy Oil Reservoirs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-13, August.
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