Numerical Simulation of SAGD Recovery Process in Presence of Shale Barriers, Thief Zones, and Fracture System

This study presents a numerical investigation for evaluating the potential applicability of the steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) recovery process under complex reservoir conditions such as shale barriers, thief zones with bottom and/or top water layers, overlying gas cap, and fracture systems...

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Published inPetroleum science and technology Vol. 31; no. 14; pp. 1454 - 1470
Main Authors Dang, T. Q. C., Chen, Z., Nguyen, T. B. N., Bae, W., Mai, C. L.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Colchester Taylor & Francis Group 18.07.2013
Taylor & Francis
Subjects
Applied sciences
Barriers
Computer simulation
Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products
Crude oil, natural gas, oil shales producing equipements and methods
Energy
Exact sciences and technology
Fracture mechanics
fracture system
Fuels
Horizontal
Mathematical models
numerical simulation
Oil extraction from wells. Pumping. Shale oil extraction. Well workover
Prospecting and production of crude oil, natural gas, oil shales and tar sands
Recovery
Reservoirs
SAGD
Shale
shale barriers
thief zones
shale barriers
fracture system
thief zones
SAGD
numerical simulation
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Summary:This study presents a numerical investigation for evaluating the potential applicability of the steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) recovery process under complex reservoir conditions such as shale barriers, thief zones with bottom and/or top water layers, overlying gas cap, and fracture systems in the McMurray and Clearwater formation. The simulation results indicated that the near-well regions were very sensitive to shale layers, and only long, continuous shale barriers (larger than 50 m or 25%) affect the SAGD performance in these well regions. In addition, the thief zones had a strongly detrimental effect on SAGD. The results also showed that the SAGD recovery process was enhanced in the presence of vertical fractures but horizontal fractures were harmful to recovery. Fracture spacing is not an important parameter in the performance of a steam process in fractured reservoirs and extending horizontal fractures will reduce ultimate oil recovery in the SAGD process. This article provides a guideline for SAGD operations in complex geological reservoirs.
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ISSN:1091-6466
1532-2459
DOI:10.1080/10916466.2010.545792