Title: Performance prediction of different recovery mechanisms during steam injection in non-fractured and naturally fractured light oil reservoirs

Authors: Tonya Ross; Babak Shabani; Hamid Rahnema

Addresses: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering Department, New Mexico Technology, Socorro, NM, 87801, USA ' Boone Pickens School of Geology, Oklahoma State University, 105 Noble Research Center, Stillwater, OK 74075, USA ' Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering Department, New Mexico Technology, Socorro, NM, 87801, USA

Abstract: It is well known that steam injection exhibits positive result in heavy oil reservoirs. In theory, the same application has the potential to be applied in light oil reservoirs to boost the production. The performance prediction model for a nine-spot steam flood pattern reservoir was developed using the SPE fourth comparative solution model to analyse the impact of different recovery mechanisms during steam injection for the light fluid sample in non-fractured and naturally fractured reservoirs. This model accounts for the variation in permeability and thickness for each layer generated. The heterogeneous model was represented by 1/8 of a nine-spot pattern unit. The simulation model examines the comparison between non-fractured and naturally fractured reservoirs. Simulation results indicate vaporisation is the dominant recovery mechanism in a naturally fractured reservoir, whereas fluid displacement and wet ability are the dominant recovery mechanisms for a non-fractured light oil reservoir. [Received: February 24, 2018; Accepted: August 27, 2018]

Keywords: light oil reservoir; steam injection; non-fractured reservoir; fractured reservoir; recovery mechanisms.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2020.107549

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2020 Vol.24 No.3, pp.305 - 320

Received: 24 Feb 2018
Accepted: 27 Aug 2018
Published online: 01 Jun 2020 *

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