With the enormous increase in the demand for crude oil, and decrease in the resources of conventional oil reservoirs, there is a great need to understand heavy or foamy oil-gas drive mechanism to maximize the oil and gas production. To analyze the real movement of non-viscous heavy oil flow, the characteristic features of the oil-gas mixture has to be estimated to forecast the future potential supply from a heavy oil reservoir. An important question in heavy oil flow under solution gas drive is whether the behaviour of depletion tests can be simulated to model the heavy oil flow behaviour. The main objective of this research is to develop a reliable numerical model for modelling heavy oil flow calibrated with controlled solution gas drive experiments, and that makes a novelty in this manuscript. In this paper, CMG-STARS model which is capable of simulating solution gas drive tests that matched the research experiments. This heavy oil recovery model can determine the relative permeability curves for oil and gas in the dual-phase system using Corey’s relations. At a depletion rate of 0.0418 psi/min, the maximum cumulative oil and gas production was observed to be 13,000 cm3 and 8500 cm3, respectively. The results from the bottom hole pressure and the block pressure simulation runs indicate that the fluid properties such as surface tension plays a significant role in the gas bubble formation. These results are promising, and helps to understand the complex behaviour of heavy oil reservoirs and thus can improve heavy oil recovery.
Declaration of competing interests
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.
| [1] |
X. Lu, X. Peng, Z. Lin, X. Zhou, F. Zeng, Numerical simulation study on characterization of foamy oil behavior in heavy oil/propane system, Fuel 262 (2020) 116559, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.116559.
|
| [2] |
A. Alizadeh, M. Jazayeri, S. Gerami, M. Emadi, Foamy oil behavior of an Iranian heavy oil reservoir, J. Pet. Sci. Technol. 33 (2) (2015) 147-151, https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2014.954671.
|
| [3] |
P. Abivin, I. Henaut, C. Chaudemanche, J.F. Argillier, F. Chinesta, M. Moan, Dispersed systems in heavy crude oils, Oil Gas Sci. Technol. 64 (5) (2009) 557-570, https://doi.org/10.2516/ogst/2008045.
|
| [4] |
W. Rose, Myths about later-day extensions of Darcy’s law, J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 26 (1-4) (2000) 187-198, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0920-4105(00)00033-4.
|
| [5] |
B. Busahmin, B.B. Maini, Measurements of surface tension for mineral and crude oil systems, Defect Diffus. Forum 391 (2019) 106-113. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/ddf.391.106.
|
| [6] |
A. Brito, R. Cabello, N. Guzmán, L. Marcano, J. Márquez, J. Trujillo, Hydrodynamic study of multiphase flow transport of highly viscous foamy fluids, J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 135 (2015) 367-374, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2015.09.012.
|
| [7] |
A. Bera, T. Babadagli, Relative permeability of foamy oil for different types of dissolved gases, SPE Reservoir Eval. Eng. 19 (2016) 604-619, https://doi.org/10.2118/180913-pa, 04.
|
| [8] |
A. Zolalemin, K.D. Stephen, Acidic Steam modeling and simulation for heavy oil and extra heavy oil reservoirs, in: SPE Gas & Oil Technology Showcase and Conference, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Dubai, 2019, https://doi.org/10.2118/198535-MS.
|
| [9] |
C. Shen, A practical approach for the modeling of foamy oil drive process, in: SPE Canada Heavy Oil Technical Conference, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Canada, 2015, https://doi.org/10.2118/174431-MS.
|
| [10] |
R. Babolmorad, B.Y. Jamaloei, Successful simulation of solution gas drive in heavy oils using conventional modeling, Pet. Sci. Technol. 34 (11-12) (2016) 1033-1041, https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2016.1177550.
|
| [11] |
P.S. Gyan, C. Xie, E.T. Brantson, S. Atuahene, Computer modeling and simulation for undersaturated primary drive recovery mechanism, J. Adv. Mech. Eng. 11 (5) (2019) 1-18, https://doi.org/10.1177/1687814019841948.
|
| [12] |
W. Kai, Z. Wensheng, L. Ke, L. Chen, G. Yanhong, P. Yue, P. Gefeng, Y. Qing, Study on water cone behavior in heavy oil reservoir with bottom water through numerical simulation, Energ. Source Part A (2019) 1-12, https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2019.1604891.
|
| [13] |
J.J. Sheng, B.B. Maini, R.E. Hayes, W.S. Tortike, Experimental study of foamy oil stability, J. Can. Pet. Techol. 36 (1997), https://doi.org/10.2118/97-04-02, 04.
|
| [14] |
S. Ursegov, A. Zakharian, E. Taraskin, Adaptive approach for heavy oil reservoir description and simulation, in: SPE Reservoir Characterisation and Simulation Conference and Exhibition, Society of Petroleum Engineers, 2017, https://doi.org/10.2118/186014-ms.
|
| [15] |
M. Amaratunga, K.K. Perera, V. Mathiesen, B.M. Halvorsen, CFD simulation of a heavy oil reservoir with AICV completion, WIT Trans. Eco. Envi. 190 (2014) 1227-1236, https://doi.org/10.2495/eq141142.
|
| [16] |
M. Shahvali, M. Pooladi-Darvish, Dynamic modelling of solution-gas drive in heavy oils, J. Can. Pet. Techol. 48 (12) (2009) 39-46, https://doi.org/10.2118/132158-pa.
|
| [17] |
X. Sun, Y. Zhang, S. Wang, Z. Song, P. Li, C. Wang, Experimental study and new three-dimensional kinetic modeling of foamy solution-gas drive processes, Sci. Rep. 8 (1) (2018) 1-15, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-22669-z.
|
| [18] |
A. Tunnish, E. Shirif, A. Henni, History matching of experimental and CMGSTARS results, J. Pet. Exploration Prod. Technol. 9 (1) (2019) 341-351, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-018-0455-2.
|
| [19] |
B. Rostami, R. Kharrat, C. Ghotbi, S. Tabatabaie, Gas-oil relative permeability and residual oil saturation as related to displacement instability and dimensionless numbers, Oil Gas Sci. Technol. 65 (2) (2010) 299-313, https://doi.org/10.2516/ogst/2009038.
|
| [20] |
H. Zhao, Y. Chang, X. Guo, Foamy oil properties and reservoir performance, J. Pet. Sci. Technol. 34 (16) (2016) 1512-1519, https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2016.1206570.
|
| [21] |
J. Zang, X. Li, Z. Chen, L. Huang, Y. Li, Y. Telphi, An analytical model of foam resistance factor in gas foam flooding, in: SPE Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Nigeria, 2015, https://doi.org/10.2118/178339-MS.
|
| [22] |
E.L. Claridge, A proposed model and mechanism for anomalous foamy heavy oil behavior, Soc. Pet. Engineers (1994), https://doi.org/10.2118/29243-MS.
|
| [23] |
G.E. Smith, Fluid flow and sand production in heavy-oil reservoirs under solution-gas drive, SPE Prod. Eng. 3 (1988) 169-180, https://doi.org/10.2118/15094-PA, 02.
|
| [24] |
M. Dusseault, Cold production and. Enhanced oil recovery, J. Can. Pet. Techol. 32 (1993), https://doi.org/10.2118/93-09-01, 09.
|
| [25] |
B.B. Maini, H.K. Sarma, A.E. George, Significance of foamy-oil behaviour in primary production of heavy oils, J. Can. Pet. Techol. 32 (1993), https://doi.org/10.2118/93-09-07, 09.
|
| [26] |
W.P. Kraus, W.J. McCaffrey, G.W. Boyd, Pseudo-bubble point model for foamy oils, in: Annual Technical Meeting, Petroleum Society of Canada, 1993, https://doi.org/10.2118/93-45.
|
| [27] |
J.J. Sheng, R.E. Hayes, B.B. Maini, W.S. Tortike, A proposed dynamic model for foamy oil properties, in: SPE International Heavy Oil Symposium, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Canada, 1995, https://doi.org/10.2118/30253-MS.
|
| [28] |
C. Shen, J. Batycky, Observation of mobility enhancement of heavy oils flowing through sand pack under solution gas drive, J. Can. Pet. Techol. 38 (4) (1996) 10-12, https://doi.org/10.2118/99-04-05.
|
| [29] |
R.J. Treinen, W.W. Ring, A.P. Spence, M. de Mirabal, M. Huerta, Hamaca: solution gas drive recovery in a heavy oil reservoir, experimental results, in: Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Brazil, 1997, https://doi.org/10.2118/39031-MS.
|
| [30] |
B.B. Maini, Foamy oil flow in primary production of heavy oil under solution gas drive, in: SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Texas, 1999, https://doi.org/10.2118/56541-MS.
|
| [31] |
M. Pooladi-Darvish, A. Firoozabadi, Solution-gas drive in heavy oil reservoirs, J. Can. Pet. Techol. 38 (1999) 54-61, https://doi.org/10.2118/99-04-06, 04.
|
| [32] |
B.B. Maini, Foamy-oil flow, J. Pet. Sci. Technol. 53 (10) (2001) 54-64, https://doi.org/10.2118/68885-JPT.
|
| [33] |
B.B. Maini, B. Busahmin,Foamy oil flow and its role in heavy oil production, in:AIP Conf. Proc. American Institute of Physics, 2010, pp. 103-108, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3453794.
|
| [34] |
X. Zhang, X. Wu, J. Zhang, R. Wang, L. Wang, R. Zhao, K. Liu, A new modeling approach for bubble growth in foamy oil, Pet. Sci. Technol. 30 (14) (2012) 1498-1507, https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2011.644015.
|
| [35] |
Z.J. Chen, J. Sun, R. Wang, X. Wu, A pseudo-bubble point model and its simulation for foamy oil in porous media, Soc. Pet. Engineers (2015), https://doi.org/10.2118/172345-PA.
|
| [36] |
P. Liu, Z. Mu, W. Li, Y. Wu, X. Li, A new mathematical model and experimental validation on foamy-oil flow in developing heavy oil reservoirs, Sci. Rep. 7 (1) (2017) 1-13, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-08882-2.
|
| [37] |
M. Wu, X. Lu, J. Yang, Z. Lin, F. Zeng, Experimental analysis of optimal viscosity for optimizing foamy oil behavior in the porous media, Fuel 262 (2020) 116602, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.116602.
|
| [38] |
X. Zhou, F. Zeng, L. Zhang, H. Wang, Foamy oil flow in heavy oilesolvent systems tested by pressure depletion in a sandpack, Fuel 171 (2016) 210-223, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2015.12.070.
|
| [39] |
C. Du, Y. Yortsos, A numerical study of the critical gas saturation in a porous medium, Transport Porous Media 35 (2) (1999) 205-225, https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006582222356.
|
| [40] |
R. Kumar, M. Pooladi-Darvish, T. Okazawa, Effect of depletion rate on gas mobility and solution gas drive in heavy oil, Soc. Pet. Engineers 7 (2002) 213-220, https://doi.org/10.2118/78438-PA, 02.
|
| [41] |
D. Bennion, M. Mastmann, M. Moustakis, A case study of foamy oil recovery in the Patos-Marinza reservoir, Driza Sand, Albania, J. Can. Pet. Techol. 42 (2003), https://doi.org/10.2118/03-03-01, 03.
|
| [42] |
T.F.M. Kortekaas, F. van Poelgeest, Liberation of solution gas during pressure depletion of virgin and watered-out oil reservoirs, SPE Reservoir Eng. 6 (1991) 329-335, https://doi.org/10.2118/19693-PA, 03.
|
| [43] |
G.Q. Tang, A. Firoozabadi, Effect of GOR, temperature, and initial water saturation on solution-gas drive in heavy-oil reservoirs, Soc. Pet. Engineers 10 (2005) 34-43, https://doi.org/10.2118/71499-pa, 01.
|
PDF
