Title: Simulation of Early-Time Response of Single-Well Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SW-SAGD)
Abstract: Abstract Steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) is an effective method of producing heavy oil and bitumen. In a typical SAGD approach, steam is injected into a horizontal well located directly above a horizontal producer. A steam chamber grows around the injection well and helps displace heated oil toward the production well. Single-well (SW) SAGD attempts to create a similar process using only one horizontal well. This may include steam injection from the toe of the horizontal well with production at the heel. Obvious advantages of SW-SAGD include cost savings and utility in relatively thin reservoirs. However, the process is technically challenging. To improve early-time response of SW-SAGD, it is necessary to heat the near-wellbore area to reduce oil viscosity and allow gravity drainage to take place. Since project economics are sensitive to early production response, we are interested in optimizing the start-up procedure. An investigation of early-time processes to improve reservoir heating will be discussed. We performed a numerical simulation study of combinations of cyclic steam injection and steam circulation prior to SAGD in an effort to better understand and improve early-time response. Results from this study, including cumulative recoveries, temperature distributions, and production rates display variances within the methods. It is found that cycling steaming of the reservoir prior to SAGD offers the most favorable option for heating the near-wellbore area and creating conditions that will improve initial SAGD response.
Publication Year: 1999
Publication Date: 1999-05-26
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 7
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