All Issue

2024 Vol.61, Issue 3S Preview Page

Research Paper (Special Issue)

Optimization of the SAGD Preheating for the Athabasca Oil Sands Reservoir with a Water Transition Zone

수포화도 전이구간이 존재하는 아사바스카 오일샌드 저류층에서의 SAGD 예열단계 최적화 연구

Junyong Lee1
,
Jinhyeon Baek2
,
Namhwa Kim2
,
Hyundon Shin2*
이 준용1
,
백 진현2
,
김 남화2
,
신 현돈2*
1E&P/Energy Business Division, E&P-America & Europe Business Dept., America Business Team Korea National Oil Corporation, Ulsan, Korea
2Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, Korea
1E&P/에너지사업본부 미주/유럽사업처 미주사업팀, 한국석유공사
2인하대학교 에너지자원공학과
*Corresponding Author
30 June 2024. pp. 222-233
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

In oil sands reservoirs with a water transition zone, steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) well-pairs are drilled at least 5m above the water transition zone to avoid decreasing the thermal efficiency of the steam and the resulting reduction in SAGD productivity. This renders a significant amount of oil in the excluded lower net reservoir zone unrecoverable. However, a transition zone with high water saturation is favorable for steam flow, allowing more heat to be transferred to the reservoir during steam injection. This allows for the faster completion of the preheating stage, which is a non-productive period of SAGD, and the early start-up of production stage, which improves productivity. In this study, through a sensitivity analysis of various preheating methods and operating conditions according to the drilling elevation of the producer, we identify sensitive operating conditions in the preheating stage and propose an optimized operation of the SAGD preheating stage and recovery improvement by utilizing the flow characteristics of the transition zone, if it exists.

Keywords
SAGD preheating stage
transition zone
preheating method
preheating operation condition
elevation of producer

전이구간이 존재하는 오일샌드 저류층에서는 전이구간에 의한 스팀의 열 효율 저하와 그에 따른 SAGD(steam-assisted gravity drainage) 생산성 저하를 우려하여 전이구간에서 최소 5m 상부에 유정 쌍을 시추한다. 이로 인해 배제된 하부의 순 저류층 구간에 존재하는 상당한 양의 오일이 회수 불가능하다. 하지만 수포화도가 높은 전이구간은 스팀 유동에 유리하므로 스팀 주입 시 저류층으로 더 많은 열전달이 가능하다. 이를 통해 SAGD의 비생산기간인 예열단계를 빠르게 완료하고 생산단계를 조기 수행하여 생산성을 향상시킬 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 생산정 시추위치에 따라 다양한 예열방식과 예열 운영조건에 대한 민감도 분석을 통해 예열단계에서 민감하게 작용하는 운영조건을 파악함으로써, 저류층 하부에 전이구간이 존재하는 경우 전이구간의 유동특성을 활용한 SAGD 예열단계 운영을 최적화하고 회수율을 증진하는 방안을 제시한다.

키워드
SAGD 예열단계
전이구간
예열방식
예열 운영조건
생산정 위치
References
1

Abiola, O. and Obasuyi, F.O., 2020. Transition zones analysis using empirical capillary pressure model from well logs and 3D seismic data on 'Stephs' field, onshore, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 10(3), p.1227-1242.

10.1007/s13202-019-00814-2
2

Akbar, M.N.A., and Permadi, P., 2016. Estimation of fluid-fluid contact and the transition zone: a case study of low contrast resistivity zone, International Petroleum Technology Conference, Bangkok, Thailand.

10.2523/IPTC-18807-MS
3

Anderson, M.T.I. and Kennedy, D.B., 2012. SAGD startup: leaving the heat in the reservoir, SPE Heavy Oil Conference Canada, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, p.1-3.

10.2118/157918-MS
4

Butler, R.M., Mcnab, G.S., and Lo, H.Y., 1981. Theoretical studies on the gravity drainage of heavy oil during in-situ steam heating, The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 59(4), p.455-460.

10.1002/cjce.5450590407
5

Cenovus FCCL Ltd., 2017. Cenovus FCCL Christina Lake In situ Progress Report, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, p.22-27.

6

Computer Modelling Group (CMG), 2023. STARS User Guide (2023.10), Computer Modelling Group Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

7

Ghosh, S., Joshi, D., Kiran, R., Agrawal, M., Chakraborty, S. S., Yadav, R., and Kumar, A., 2023. A review of reservoir oil-water transition zone characterization and potential recovery methods, Geopersia, 13(2), p.323-336.

8

Law, D.H.-S. and Nasr, T.N., 2003. Field-Scale numerical simulation of SAGD process with top-water thief zone, Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology, 42(8), PETSOC-03-08-01.

10.2118/03-08-01
9

Masalmeh, S.K., 2000. High oil recoveries from transition zones, Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi, UAE, p.1-3.

10.2523/87291-MS
10

MEG Energy Corp., 2016. MEG Energy Christina Lake Regional Project, Alberta Energy Regulator, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 39p.

11

Nexen CNOOC Ltd., 2017. Long Lake Kinosis Oil Sands Project Annual Performance Presentation, Alberta Energy Regulator, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, p.29-31.

12

Webb, P.D., Gauthier, J., and Skeates, C., 2017. Applying ball-activated completion technology to SAGD tubing deployed outflow control devices to eliminate well intervention, SPE Canada Heavy Oil Technical Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, p.729-743.

10.2118/184992-MS
13

Xian, C., Dawoud, A., Carnegie, A., Mahdi, A.E., Hajeri, S.A., Basioni, M., Raghuraman, B., Fujisawa, G., and Mullins, O.C., 2006. Identification and characterization of transition zones in tight carbonates by downhole fluid analysis, Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

10.2523/101257-MS
14

Yuan, J.Y. and McFarlane, R., 2009. Evaluation of steam circulation strategies for SAGD start-up, Canadian International Petroleum Conference, Calgary, Alberta, p.16-18.

10.2118/2009-014
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 :222-233
  • Received Date : 2024-05-24
  • Revised Date : 2024-06-21
  • Accepted Date : 2024-06-24
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.32390/ksmer.2024.61.3.222
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