Optimal Grid System Design for the SAGD Process Simulation

doi:10.32390/ksmer.2013.50.5.667

All Issue

2013 Vol.50, Issue 5 Preview Page Next Page

Research Paper

Optimal Grid System Design for the SAGD Process Simulation SAGD 공법 시뮬레이션 격자설계 최적화 연구: 황태호·신현돈·전보현
Taeho Hwang, Hyundon Shin and BoHyun Chon

October 2013. pp. 667-677

PDF

Abstract

The SAGD process is currently the widely used one among the in-situ recovery methods to produce bitumen from Alberta oil sands in Western Canada. A thermal process requires very small grid size to provide the better description in the reservoir simulation model than the other general processes; however the smaller grid size will take longer simulation runtime. In this study, the optimal grid system design has been investigated through numerical simulation sensitivity studies for the SAGD process. Grid size sensitivity study has been conducted to define the maximum grid size that gives a closer result to the 1×1 m grid case and also the impact of grid size in j-direction as well as the i/k ratio in SAGD simulation. The simulation results shown an i/k ratio is more important than grid size itself. Based on the CSOR and oil production as well as steam chamber shape, the 2×2 m grid case is closer to the 1×1 m case results than the 3×1 m case one. For the grid size optimization in the wellbore direction (j-direction), the maximum grid size in j-direction to see the oil recovery at wellbore end zone is 10 m in this study.

Keywords

SAGD process

Grid size

Steam chamber

Recovery at wellbore end zone

Simulation runtime

SAGD공법은 캐나다 서부의 앨버타 오일샌드로 부터 비투멘을 생산하는데 가장 많이 이용되고 있는 지하회수기법이다. 열 주입 공법을 이용한 저류층 시뮬레이션은 열전달 현상을 모사해야 하므로 일반적인 생산공법에 대한 시뮬레이션 보다 상대적으로 작은 크기의 격자가 필요하다. 작은 크기의 격자는 더 많은 수의 격자연산이 요구되어 시뮬레이션 연산시간이 길어진다. 따라서 시뮬레이션 연산시간과 비용을 감안하여 적절한 크기의 격자설계가 요구된다. 본 연구에서는 SAGD공법에서의 격자크기설계에 대한 민감도를 분석하였으며 i-k 방향 격자 크기비, j 방향 격자 크기가 스팀쳄버 발달양상에 영향을 미치는 중요 인자로 선정하였다. 시뮬레이션 결과는 i/k 비율이 격자 크기 그 자체보다 더 중요함을 보여주었으며 CSOR, 오일생산량, 스팀쳄버 발달양상을 고려하면 2×2 m 경우가 3×1 m 경우보다 1×1 m 경우와 더 유사한 결과를 보여주었다. 균질 모델에 대한 수평정 방향 (j-방향)의 격자설계 최적화에서 25 m의 격자설계는 수평정 끝단에서의 오일 회수율과 스팀쳄버 발달양상을 정확하게 모사할 수 없었으며 이를 관찰하기 위해서는 최대 10 m 크기 이하의 격자설계가 필요한 것으로 나타났다.

키워드

SAGD공법

격자크기

스팀쳄버

수평정 끝단 회수율

시뮬레이션 연산시간

References

Abou-Kassem, J.H. and Aziz, K., 1984, “Sensitivity of Steamflood Model Results to Grid and Timestep Size,” J. of SPE, Vol. 24, No. 1. pp. 65-74.
Aziz, K., 1993, “Reservoir Simulation Grids: Opportunities and Problems,” J. of Can. Pet. Tech., Vol. 45, No. 7, pp. 658-663.
Edmunds, N.R. and Gittins, S.D., 1993, “Effective Application of Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage of Bitumen to Long Horizontal Well Pairs,” J. of Can. Pet. Tech., Vol. 32, No. 6, pp. 49-55.
Edmunds, N.R., 2000, “Investigation of SAGD Steam Trap Control in Two and Three Dimensions,” J. of Can. Pet. Tech., Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 30-40.
ERCB, 2011, Alberta's Reserves 2010 and Supply/Demand Outlook 2011~2020, Published by Energy Resources Conservation Board, Calgary, Alberta, pp. 58-66.
Japan Petroleum Exploration Co.,Ltd., 2012.09.11, www. japex.co.jp.
Kam, D.J., Min, B.H., Chung, S.H., Park, C.H., Kang, J.M., Kim, J.Y., Jang, I.S. and Choi, Y.R., 2009, “Optimization of Steam Injection Pressure in SAGD using Artificial Neural Network,” J. of Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resource Engineers, Vol. 46, No. 2, pp. 143-150.
Shin, H.D. and Polikar, M., 2007, “Review of Reservoir Parameters to Optimize SAGD and Fast-SAGD Operating Conditions,” J. of Can. Pet. Tech., Vol. 46, No. 1, pp. 35-41.

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 : 50
No :5
Pages :667-677
DOI :https://doi.org/10.32390/ksmer.2013.50.5.667

[1] Abou-Kassem, J.H. and Aziz, K., 1984, “Sensitivity of Steamflood Model Results to Grid and Timestep Size,” J. of SPE, Vol. 24, No. 1. pp. 65-74.

[2] Aziz, K., 1993, “Reservoir Simulation Grids: Opportunities and Problems,” J. of Can. Pet. Tech., Vol. 45, No. 7, pp. 658-663.

[3] Edmunds, N.R. and Gittins, S.D., 1993, “Effective Application of Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage of Bitumen to Long Horizontal Well Pairs,” J. of Can. Pet. Tech., Vol. 32, No. 6, pp. 49-55.

[4] Edmunds, N.R., 2000, “Investigation of SAGD Steam Trap Control in Two and Three Dimensions,” J. of Can. Pet. Tech., Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 30-40.

[5] ERCB, 2011, Alberta's Reserves 2010 and Supply/Demand Outlook 2011~2020, Published by Energy Resources Conservation Board, Calgary, Alberta, pp. 58-66.

[6] Japan Petroleum Exploration Co.,Ltd., 2012.09.11, www. japex.co.jp.

[7] Kam, D.J., Min, B.H., Chung, S.H., Park, C.H., Kang, J.M., Kim, J.Y., Jang, I.S. and Choi, Y.R., 2009, “Optimization of Steam Injection Pressure in SAGD using Artificial Neural Network,” J. of Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resource Engineers, Vol. 46, No. 2, pp. 143-150.

[8] Shin, H.D. and Polikar, M., 2007, “Review of Reservoir Parameters to Optimize SAGD and Fast-SAGD Operating Conditions,” J. of Can. Pet. Tech., Vol. 46, No. 1, pp. 35-41.

Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers ISSN:2288-0291(Print) 2288-2790(Online) 한국자원공학회지

All Issue