All Issue

2024 Vol.61, Issue 3S Preview Page

Technical Report (Special Issue)

Correlations between Geomechanical Effects, SAGD Performance, and Reservoir Conditions in SAGD Operations in Alberta, Canada

캐나다 앨버타 SAGD 운영광구들의 석유암반공학적 특성과 SAGD 생산성 및 저류층 조건간의 상관성 연구

Min Kim1
,
Hyundon Shin2*
,
Namhwa Kim2
김 민1
,
신 현돈2*
,
김 남화2
1Reservoir Engineering Team, Global E&P Technology Center, Korea National Oil Corporation, Ulsan, Korea
2Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, Korea
1한국석유공사 글로벌기술센터 저류공학팀
2인하대학교 에너지자원공학과
*Corresponding Author
30 June 2024. pp. 234-241
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

The SAGD process is one of the most popular in-situ recovery methods used to produce oil from oil sands in Alberta, Canada. This process reduces the viscosity of bitumen by injecting high-temperature steam to produce oil. The geomechanical effects of unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs due to high injection pressures may threaten the caprock integrity and cause surface heave. However, the geomechanical effect increases oil productivity owing to the enhanced permeability in the reservoir. This study examined the correlation between reservoir conditions, operating conditions, SAGD performance, and annual surface heave rate of six SAGD projects in Alberta, Canada. The correlation study indicates that SAGD operations with high productivity can cause severe problems in caprock integrity for thin caprocks, shallow reservoir depth, low safety factor, and HP-SAGD.

Keywords
geomechanical effect
caprock integrity
surface heave
SAGD performance
injection pressure

증기중력배유법(steam-assisted gravity drainage, SAGD)은 캐나다 오일샌드를 생산하기 위해 가장 널리 사용되는 지하회수기법이며, 저류층에 고온의 스팀을 주입하여 비튜멘의 점성도를 낮춰 오일을 생산한다. 스팀 주입압력을 높여 운영 시 미고결 사암 저류층의 석유암반공학적 특성을 변형시켜 덮개암 안전성을 위협하고 지표융기 현상을 발생시키지만, 저류층의 투과도를 증가시켜 오일 생산성이 증진되는 효과가 있다. 이 연구에서는 캐나다 앨버타 지역 내 6개 SAGD 운영광구의 연간 지표융기 변화율과 저류층 조건 및 운영조건, SAGD 생산성 간의 상관성 연구를 수행하였다. 그 결과, 좋은 SAGD 생산성을 가지는 광구가 얇은 덮개암 두께, 얕은 저류층 깊이, 낮은 안전율 적용 그리고 HP-SAGD로 운영될 경우 심각한 덮개암 안전성 문제를 야기할 수 있음을 파악하였다.

키워드
석유암반공학적 특성
덮개암 안전성
지표융기
SAGD 생산성
주입압력
References
1

Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), 2023. Alberta Energy Outlook, ST98, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 19p.

2

Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB), 2010. Total E&P Canada Ltd. Surface Steam Release of May 18, 2006 Joslyn Creek SAGD Thermal Operation, Alberta Energy Regulator, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

3

Bao, X., Chen, Z., Dong, C., Deng, H., Liu, H., and Zhong, H., 2013. Coupled geomechanical and thermal simulation of SAGD process, Presented at the SPE Heavy Oil Conference Canada, Alberta, Canada, 11-13 June, SPE-165423-MS.

10.2118/165423-MS
4

Butler, R.M., 1994. Steam-assisted gravity drainage: concept, development, performance and future, Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology, 33(02), p.44-50.

10.2118/94-02-05
5

Cenovus, 2011. 2010 Foster Creek In-situ Performance Report, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

6

Cenovus, 2012. 2011 Christina Lake In-situ Performance Report, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

7

Collins, P.M., Carlson, M.R., Walters D.A., and Settari A., 2002. Geomechanical and thermal reservoir simulation demonstrates SAGD enhancement due to shear dilation, Presented at the SPE/ISRM Rock Mechanics Conference, Texas, 20-23 October, SPE-78237-MS.

10.2523/78237-MS
8

ConocoPhillips, 2012. 2011 Surmont In-situ Performance Report, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

9

Devon, 2013. 2012 Jackfish In-situ Performance Report, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

10

Dusseault, M.B. and Collins, P.M., 2008. Geomechanics effects in thermal processes for heavy oil exploitation, CSEG Recorder, 33(6), p.20-23.

11

Edmunds, N.R. and Gittins, S.D., 1993. Effective application of steam assisted gravity drainage of bitumen to long horizontal well pairs, The Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology, 32(6), p.49-55.

10.2118/93-06-05
12

Shin, H. and Polikar, M., 2005. New economic indicator to evaluate SAGD performance, Presented at the 2005 SPE Western Regional Meeting, Irvine, CA, USA. 30 March - 1 April, SPE-94024-MS.

10.2523/94024-MS
13

Suncor, 2012a. 2011 MacKay River In-situ Performance Report, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

14

Suncor, 2012b. 2011 Firebag In-situ Performance Report, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

15

Terzaghi, K., 1943. Theoretical Soil Mechanics, John Wiley & Sons Inc., p.1-510.

10.1002/9780470172766
16

Touhidi-Baghini, A., 1998. Absolute Permeability of McMurray Formation Oil Sands at Low Confining Stresses, Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, p.1-339.

17

Yang, B., Xu, B., and Yuan, Y., 2013. Impact of thermal pore pressure on the Caprock integrity during the SAGD operation, Presented at the SPE Heavy Oil Conference Canada, Alberta, Canada, 11-13 June, SPE-165448-MS.

10.2118/165448-MS
Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국자원공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국자원공학회지
  • Volume : 61
  • No :3
  • Pages :234-241
  • Received Date : 2024-05-24
  • Revised Date : 2024-06-23
  • Accepted Date : 2024-06-24
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.32390/ksmer.2024.61.3.234
Journal Informaiton Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
Online Submission
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • crossref crossmark
  • crossref cited-by
  • KCI 문헌 유사도 검사
  • orcid
  • open access
  • ccl
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close