Title: An up-scaling approach for vapour extraction process in heavy oil reservoirs

Authors: Tayebeh Jamshidi; Fanhua Zeng; Mehdi Mohammadpoor; Zeinab Movahedzadeh

Addresses: Department of Petroleum Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada ' Department of Petroleum Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada ' Department of Petroleum Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada ' Department of Petroleum Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada

Abstract: Although some studies are performed and a series of analytical models are developed, it has been found that current analytical models are not accurately predicting the production rate by VAPEX. This is largely because the diffusion used in the current model is based on a single fluid property (oil viscosity only) while other properties such as permeability, porosity and cementation factor carry large amount of uncertainties. The main objective of this study was to use the experimental data obtained from two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) physical models and develop a new and more accurate correlation for diffusivity that takes into account fluid and reservoir properties based on Butler's equation. In order to develop such an accurate correlation, various parameters such as porosity, cementation factor, permeability, and viscosity were included to history match the experimental data and tune the diffusivity correlation. Next the validity of the correlation was proved using 3D experimental data and data obtained from a field pilot test. It has been observed that diffusion rate is not only a function of viscosity but also it is a function of permeability, porosity, and cementation factor. [Received: October 16, 2013; Accepted: April 24, 2014]

Keywords: vapour extraction; VAPEX; up-scaling; diffusion coefficient; cementation factor; economic analysis; heavy oil reservoirs; physical modelling; diffusivity; oil viscosity; permeability; porosity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2015.070059

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2015 Vol.10 No.1, pp.60 - 76

Received: 16 Oct 2013
Accepted: 24 Apr 2014

Published online: 26 Jun 2015 *

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