Title: Production analysis of sequential multi-well cyclic steam stimulation in heterogeneous heavy oil reservoir

Authors: Kang Zhou; Jian Hou; Bo Yu; Qingjun Du; Yongge Liu

Addresses: School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum,Qingdao, 266580, China ' State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, 266580,China; School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, 266580, China ' College of Science, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, 266580, China ' School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, 266580, China ' School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, 266580, China

Abstract: Sequential multi-well cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) performs better than conventional CSS in heavy oil reservoirs. It distributes all wells into two or more groups. Each group injects steam simultaneously while different groups inject one by one. This paper further studies the effect of heterogeneity on well grouping in sequential multi-well CSS and explains how it improves conventional CSS. Results indicate that the channelling wells should be put into a same group and injected simultaneously. This can expand heating area, increase moveable oil and replenish reservoir energy. After appropriate well grouping, injecting group by group can establish a pressure drop between injecting and producing groups. The pressure drop and oil displacement directions change periodically. These mechanisms improve the performance of sequential multi-well CSS in heavy oil reservoirs on both technical and economic sides. [Received: March 25, 2016; Accepted: July 24, 2016]

Keywords: heavy oil reservoir; sequential multi-well cyclic steam stimulation; horizontal well; enhanced oil recovery; mechanism analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2017.087859

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2017 Vol.16 No.4, pp.311 - 328

Received: 07 Apr 2016
Accepted: 24 Jul 2016

Published online: 06 Nov 2017 *

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