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Effects of Lean Zones on Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Jinze Xu

    (Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Zhangxin Chen

    (Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Xiaohu Dong

    (MOE Key Laboratory of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China)

  • Wei Zhou

    (Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

Abstract

A thorough understanding of the effects of lean zones and the improvement of steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) operations with such heterogeneities is critically important for reducing the disadvantages of lean zones. The numerical model shows: (1) SAGD is most influenced by the single-layer lean zone with the above-injector (AI) location; with the decrease of interval distance and increase of thickness and water saturation in lean zones, the detrimental effect of single-layer lean zones on SAGD performance increases; (2) with the increase of period and decrease of connate and initial water saturations in lean zones, the detrimental effect of multiple-layer lean zones on SAGD performance increases; (3) reducing the injection pressure properly improves SAGD performance in leaky oil sands. The field-scale study indicates: (1) well pair 1 is most affected by lean zones in the studied pad due to the widest distribution of lean zones above its injector, and a hybrid cyclic steam stimulation (CSS)/SAGD method is proposed to overcome the practical problem of a low injection pressure in this area; (2) simulation results prove that the hybrid CSS/SAGD method is better than the conventional SAGD method in leaky oil sands.

Suggested Citation

  • Jinze Xu & Zhangxin Chen & Xiaohu Dong & Wei Zhou, 2017. "Effects of Lean Zones on Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:4:p:471-:d:94842
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Giacchetta, Giancarlo & Leporini, Mariella & Marchetti, Barbara, 2015. "Economic and environmental analysis of a Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) facility for oil recovery from Canadian oil sands," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 1-9.
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    2. Li, Jing & Zhang, Lisong & Yang, Feiyue & Sun, Luning, 2020. "Positive measure and potential implication for heavy oil recovery of dip reservoir using SAGD based on numerical analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).

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