Extension of Existing Screening Criteria Tables for Thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery Methods Through Compositional Analyses of Heavy Oils

Authors
I. Al-Atwah (Texas A&M University) | M. Alshaikh (Texas A&M University) | S. T. Sweet (Texas A&M University) | A. Knap (Texas A&M University) | B. Hascakir (Texas A&M University)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2118/190026-MS
Document ID
SPE-190026-MS
Publisher
Society of Petroleum Engineers
Source
SPE Western Regional Meeting, 22-26 April, Garden Grove, California, USA
Publication Date
2018
Document Type
Conference Paper
Language
English
ISBN
978-1-61399-599-0
Copyright
2018. Society of Petroleum Engineers
Disciplines
5.3.9 Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage, 4.3.3 Aspaltenes, 5.4.6 Thermal Methods, 5.3.6 Chemical Flooding Methods (e.g., Polymer, Solvent, Nitrogen, Immiscible CO2, Surfactant, Vapex), 4 Facilities Design, Construction and Operation, 4.1 Processing Systems and Design, 5.4 Improved and Enhanced Recovery, 5.4 Improved and Enhanced Recovery, 4.1.8 Heavy Oil Upgrading
Keywords
Screening Criteria for Thermal EOR, Compositional Variations, SARA
Downloads
4 in the last 30 days
165 since 2007
Show more detail
View rights & permissions
SPE Member Price: USD 8.50
SPE Non-Member Price: USD 25.00
Abstract

Heavy oil extraction via thermal enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods is a challenging task due to low mobility of oil at reservoir conditions and high petroleum processing cost due to high impurity content of heavy oils. This task becomes more difficult with the decrease in oil prices. Hence, any effort to decrease the recovery or refinery cost of heavy oil production can make the extraction of these unconventional resources more feasible.

Existing screening criteria tables are still in use to find the optimum thermal EOR methods to recover heavy oil reservoirs. However, since those tables ignore the role of oil and rock compositions in the success and failure of oil recovery through thermal methods, generally the thermal EOR response is different than expected. This study aims to extend existing screening criteria tables for thermal EOR methods by including the impact of oil and rock composition and investigates the produced oil quality originated from different EOR techniques. First, lab-scale steam assisted gravity drainage, in-situ combustion (ISC), steam injection, hot-water injection, and steam/solvent injection experiments were conducted on two different heavy oil samples. The success of each EOR process, the impact of oil type and reservoir rock were interpreted based on the variations between initial and the produced oil viscosity, density, and SARA (Saturates, Aromatics, Resins, and Asphaltenes) fraction content.

Hydrocarbon composition of initial and produced oil samples was compared using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The differences in the molecular signatures were analyzed by a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy on initial and produced oil samples. GCMS analyses of initial oil samples indicated the biodegradation of the two crude oils were different and they showed high (low lighter component content) and slight (high lighter component content) biodegradation. In terms of produced oil quality, highly biodegraded oil sample responded to ISC better than the slightly biodegraded oil sample. Steam processes upgraded the highly biodegraded oil for the reservoir without clay.

Thermal EOR methods are costly especially at the current price environment. Furthermore, because of the differences in the response of different thermal EOR methods to different reservoirs due to compositional variations in reservoir oil and rock, the thermal EOR methods are not widely applied. Our study is a step taken to improve the existing screening criteria tables to determine the successful thermal EOR candidates through inclusion of oil and rock compositions.

File Size  1 MBNumber of Pages   13

Al-Adasani, A. and Bai, B. 2010. Recent Developments and Updated Screening Criteria of Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques. In International Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition in China: Society of Petroleum Engineers. ISBN 1555632955.

Al Adasani, A. and Bai, B. 2011. Analysis of Eor Projects and Updated Screening Criteria. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 79 (1-2): 10-24. DOI: 10.1016/j.petrol.2011.07.005

Al Atwah, I., Puckette, J., Pantano, J.et al. 2017. Organic Geochemistry and Crude Oil Source Rock Correlation of Devonian-Mississippian Petroleum Systems in Northern Oklahoma. AAPG Memoir 116 : Mississippian Reservoirs of the Midcontinent 116. DOI: 10.1306/13632152M1163790

Alvarado, V. and Manrique, E. 2010. Enhanced Oil Recovery: An Update Review. Energies 3 (9): 1529-1575.

Standard Test Method for Characteristic Groups in Rubber Extender and Processing Oils and Other Petroleum-Derived Oils by the Clay–Gel Absorption Chromatographic Method. 2011.

Standard Test Methods for Polyurethane Raw Materials: Determination of Viscosity of Crude or Modified Isocyanates. 2015.

Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density, and Api Gravity of Liquids by Digital Density Meter. 2016.

Bae, J. 1977. Characterization of Crude Oil for Fireflooding Using Thermal Analysis Methods. Society of Petroleum Engineers Journal 17 (03): 211-218.

Bird, R. B., Stewart, W. E., and Lightfoot, E. N. 1960. Transport Phenomena John Wiley & Sons. New York: 413.

Bissada, K. A., Tan, J., Szymczyk, E.et al. 2016. Group-Type Characterization of Crude Oil and Bitumen. Part I: Enhanced Separation and Quantification of Saturates, Aromatics, Resins and Asphaltenes (Sara). Organic Geochemistry 95: 21-28.

Burger, J., Sourieau, P., and Combarnous, M. 1985. Thermal Methods of Oil Recovery.

Coates, J. 2000. Interpretation of Infrared Spectra, a Practical Approach. Encyclopedia of analytical chemistry.

Coelho, R. 2016. Microscopic Displacement of Bitumen During Solvent-Steam-Flooding: Effects of Reservoir Clays and Solvent Type.

Coelho, R. and Hascakir, B. 2015. The Pore Scale Description of Carbon Dioxide Storage into High Asphaltene Content Reservoirs. In Carbon Management Technology Conference: Carbon Management Technology Conference. ISBN 0816910936.

Coelho, R., Ovalles, C., Benson, I. P.et al. 2017. Effect of Clay Presence and Solvent Dose on Hybrid Solvent-Steam Performance. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 150: 203-207.

Eglinton, G. and Calvin, M. 1967. Chemical Fossils. Scientific American 216 (1): 32-43.

Eglinton, G. and Hamilton, R. J. 1967. Leaf Epicuticular Waxes. Science 156 (3780): 1322-1335.

Espitalie, J., Madec, M., and Tissot, B. 1980. Role of Mineral Matrix in Kerogen Pyrolysis: Influence on Petroleum Generation and Migration. AAPG Bulletin 64 (1): 59-66.

Espitalié, J., Makadi, K. S., and Trichet, J. 1984. Role of the Mineral Matrix During Kerogen Pyrolysis. Organic Geochemistry 6: 365-382.

Fan, T., Wang, J., and Buckley, J. S. 2002. Evaluating Crude Oils by Sara Analysis. In SPE/DOE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium: Society of Petroleum Engineers. ISBN 1555639518.

Farouq Ali, S. 2003. Heavy Oil—Evermore Mobile. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 37 (1): 5-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0920-4105(02)00307-8

Fernandez-Lima, F. A., Becker, C., McKenna, A. M.et al. 2009. Petroleum Crude Oil Characterization by Ims-Ms and Fticr Ms. Analytical Chemistry 81 (24): 9941-9947. DOI: 10.1021/ac901594f

Green, D. W. and Willhite, P. G. 1998. Enhanced Oil Recovery: Henry L. Doherty Memorial Fund of AIME, Society of Petroleum Engineers Richardson, TX. Original edition. ISBN. 301

Hascakir, B. 2015. Description of in-Situ Oil Upgrading Mechanism for in-Situ Combustion Based on a Reductionist Chemical Model. In SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition: Society of Petroleum Engineers. ISBN 1613993765.

Ismail, N. B., Klock, K. A., and Hascakir, B. 2016. In-Situ Combustion Experience in Heavy Oil Carbonate. In SPE Canada Heavy Oil Technical Conference: Society of Petroleum Engineers. ISBN 1613994710.

Jewell, D., Weber, J., Bunger, J.et al. 1972. Ion-Exchange, Coordination, and Adsorption Chromatographic Separation of Heavy-End Petroleum Distillates. Analytical Chemistry 44 (8): 1391-1395.

Johns, W. D. 1979. Clay Mineral Catalysis and Petroleum Generation. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences 7 (1): 183-198.

Johns, W. D. and Shimoyama, A. 1972. Clay Minerals and Petroleum-Forming Reactions During Burial and Diagenesis. AAPG Bulletin 56 (11): 2160-2167.

Kaufman, R. 1990. Gas Chromatography as a Development and Production Tool for Fingerprinting Oils from Individual Reservoirs: Applications in the Gulf of Mexico. In GCSSEPM Foundation Ninth Annual Research Conference Proceedings, October 1, 1990:263-282.

Kozlowski, M., Punase, A., Nasr-El-Din, H.et al. 2015. The Catalytic Effect of Clay on in-Situ Combustion Performance. In SPE Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference: Society of Petroleum Engineers. ISBN 1613994222.

Kudryavtsev, P. and Hascakir, B. 2014. Towards Dynamic Control of in-Situ Combustion: Effect of Initial Oil and Water Saturations. In SPE Western North American and Rocky Mountain Joint Meeting: Society of Petroleum Engineers. ISBN 1613993277.

Larter, S., Huang, H., Adams, J.et al. 2012. A Practical Biodegradation Scale for Use in Reservoir Geochemical Studies of Biodegraded Oils. Organic Geochemistry 45: 66-76. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2012.01.007

Lewis, W. K. 1934. Properties of Hydrocarbon Mixtures as Related to Production Problems. DOI: 10.2118/934011-G

McCain, W. 1973. Properties of Petroleum Fluids: Petroleum Pub. Co. Millero, FJ, Ward, G K, and Chetirkin, PV, Relative.

McCollum, J. D. and Quick, L. M. 1977. Process for Recovering and Upgrading Hydrocarbons from Tar Sands. In: Google Patents.

Meyer, R. F., Attanasi, E. D., and Freeman, P. A. 2007. Heavy Oil and Natural Bitumen Resources in Geological Basins of the World.

Morrow, A. W., Mukhametshina, A., Aleksandrov, D.et al. 2014. Environmental Impact of Bitumen Extraction with Thermal Recovery. In SPE Heavy Oil Conference-Canada: Society of Petroleum Engineers. ISBN 161399334X.

Mukhametshina, A. and Hascakir, B. 2014. Bitumen Extraction by Expanding Solvent-Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (Es-Sagd) with Asphaltene Solvents and Non-Solvents. In SPE Heavy Oil Conference-Canada: Society of Petroleum Engineers. ISBN 161399334X.

Mukhametshina, A., Morrow, A., Aleksandrov, D.et al. 2014. Evaluation of Four Thermal Recovery Methods for Bitumen Extraction. In SPE Western North American and Rocky Mountain Joint Meeting: Society of Petroleum Engineers. ISBN 1613993277.

Mullins, O. C. 2008. Review of the Molecular Structure and Aggregation of Asphaltenes and Petroleomics. Spe Journal 13 (01): 48-57.

Peters, K. E. and Fowler, M. G. 2002. Applications of Petroleum Geochemistry to Exploration and Reservoir Management. Organic Geochemistry 33 (1): 5-36.

Peters, K. E. and Moldowan, J. M. 1993. The Biomarker Guide: Interpreting Molecular Fossils in Petroleum and Ancient Sediments.

Peters, K. E., Walters, C. C., and Moldowan, J. M. 2005. The Biomarker Guide: Cambridge University Press. Original edition. ISBN 0521781582.

Prats, M. 1982. Thermal Recovery.

Punase, A. and Hascakir, B. 2016. Stability Determination of Asphaltenes through Dielectric Constant Measurements of Polar Oil Fractions. Energy & Fuels 31 (1): 65-72.

Sarathi, P. 1998. In-Situ Combustion Handbook Principles and Practices. National Petroleum Technology Office: Tulsa, Ok, 1999. Report DOE/PC/91008-0374, OSTI ID 3174.

Slentz, L. W. 1981. Geochemistry of Reservoir Fluids as a Unique Approach to Optimum Reservoir Management. In Middle East Technical Conference and Exhibition: Society of Petroleum Engineers. ISBN 1555636861.

Speight, J. G. 1999. The Chemistry and Technology of Petroleum. New York 3rd Edition.

Stape, P., Ovalles, C., and Hascakir, B. 2016. Pore Scale Displacement Mechanism of Bitumen Extraction with High Molecular Weight Hydrocarbon Solvents. In SPE Improved Oil Recovery Conference: Society of Petroleum Engineers. ISBN 1613994397.

Taber, J. J., Martin, F., and Seright, R. 1997a. Eor Screening Criteria Revisited-Part 1: Introduction to Screening Criteria and Enhanced Recovery Field Projects. SPE Reservoir Engineering 12 (03): 189-198.

Taber, J. J., Martin, F., and Seright, R. 1997b. Eor Screening Criteria Revisited—Part 2: Applications and Impact of Oil Prices. SPE Reservoir Engineering 12 (03): 199-206.

Talukdar, S., Dow, W., and Persad, K. 1990. Geochemistry of Oils Provides Optimism for Deeper Exploration in Atlantic Off Trinidad. Oil & Gas Journal 88 (46): 118-122.

Thompson, K. F. 1983. Classification and Thermal History of Petroleum Based on Light Hydrocarbons. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 47 (2): 303-316.

Turta, A. T., Wassmuth, F., Maini, B. B.et al. 2000. Evaluation of Ior Potential of Petroleum Reservoirs. World Petroleum Congress.

van Kaam-Peters, H. M., Köster, J., van der Gaast, S. J.et al. 1998. The Effect of Clay Minerals on Diasterane/Sterane Ratios. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 62 (17): 2923-2929.

Wang, G., Chang, X., Wang, T.-G.et al. 2015. Pregnanes as Molecular Indicators for Depositional Environments of Sediments and Petroleum Source Rocks. Organic Geochemistry 78: 110-120.

Wenger, L. M., Davis, C. L., and Isaksen, G. H. 2002. Multiple Controls on Petroleum Biodegradation and Impact on Oil Quality. SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering 5 (05): 375-383.

Other Resources

Looking for more? 

Some of the OnePetro partner societies have developed subject- specific wikis that may help.


  

PetroWiki was initially created from the seven volume  Petroleum Engineering Handbook (PEH) published by the  Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).







The SEG Wiki is a useful collection of information for working geophysicists, educators, and students in the field of geophysics. The initial content has been derived from : Robert E. Sheriff's Encyclopedic Dictionary of Applied Geophysics, fourth edition.