Experimental Investigation of the VAPEX Process in Vuggy Porous Media

Document Type
Journal Paper
Authors
Nima Rezaei (Reservoir Engineering Research Institute) | Omidreza Mohammadzadeh (DBR Technology Centre-Schlumberger) | Lesley Anne James (Memorial University of Newfoundland) | Ioannis Chatzis (University of Waterloo)
Document ID
SPE-163106-PA
Source
SPE Journal
Volume
19
Issue
01
Pages
101 - 108
Publication Date
2013
Publisher
Society of Petroleum Engineers
Language
English
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/163106-PA
ISSN
1086-055X
Copyright
2013. Society of Petroleum Engineers
Keywords
Downloads
22 in the last 30 days
32 since 2007
SPE Member Price: USD 10.00
SPE Non-Member Price: USD 30.00
View rights & permissions

Summary

In this paper, the application of the vapor extraction (VAPEX) process was investigated to recover Cold Lake bitumen from vuggy porous media with n-pentane as the hydrocarbon solvent. Seven different sintered glass-bead models were designed and fabricated--four of which were vugular media with different vuggy- to total-pore-volume (PV) ratios. The vugs were arranged in aligned and staggered configurations. Three homogeneous sintered glass-bead models of different permeability and porosity were also fabricated to serve as baselines.The vug sizes were controlled in a narrow size-distribution range by embedding wood particles of uniform volumes (20 mm3 each) in the packing of the glass-bead continuum, sandwiched between two parallel glass plates. The packing assembly was then sintered in the muffle furnace. For each particular VAPEX experiment, the oil-recovery performance was characterized by measurements [e.g., live-oil and dead-oil production rates, live-oil solvent content, and Residual Oil Saturation (ROS) (in the invaded area of themodels)]. It was observed that the vugs significantly facilitated the live-oil production from the vuggy models compared with the corresponding homogeneous baseline model with the same matrix permeability. The increase in the vugporosity of the porous space significantly increased the live- and dead-oil production rates, and it slightly decreased the extent of ROS in the model.Unlike the sintered homogeneous models for which the live-oil-production rate remains reasonably constant during the lateral spreading phase of the VAPEX process, the vuggy-porosity models displayed a boost in the live-oil production rate when several vugs were being invaded by the solvent vapor. This behavior was more pronounced in the case of aligned vugs in which the vugs were closer to each other, and more vugs were invaded simultaneously compared with the case of a staggered-vug configuration. The enhanced pore-level mixing of solvent with bitumen, the improved petrophysical properties of the porous medium, and the flow communication of matrix with the vugs were found to enhance the live oil drainage towards the production well.

File Size   474 KBNumber of Pages   8
References 1 

References

Aguilera, R. 1976. Analysis of Naturally Fractured Reservoirs FromConventional Well Logs. J. Pet. Tech.  28 (7):764-772. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/5342-PA.

Buschkuehle, B.E., Hein F.J., and Grobe, M. 2007. An Overview of the Geologyof the Upper Devonian Grosmont Carbonate Bitumen Deposit, Northern Alberta,Canada. Nonrenewable Resour.  16 (1): 3-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11053-007-9032-y.

Buza, J.W. 2008. An Overview of Heavy and Extra Heavy Oil CarbonateReservoirs in the Middle East. Paper IPTC 1426 presented at the InternationalPetroleum Technology Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 3-5 December. http://dx.doi.org/10.2523/12426-MS.

Chatzis, I. 2002. Pore-Scale Mechanisms of Heavy Oil Recovery Using theVAPEX Process. Paper 2002-198 presented at the Petroleum Society's CanadianInternational Petroleum Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 11-13 June.

Das, S. 2007. Application of Thermal Recovery Processes in Heavy OilCarbonate Reservoirs. Paper SPE 105392 presented at the 15th SPE Middle EastOil and Gas Show and Conference, Bahrain International Exhibition, Kingdom ofBahrain, 11-14 March. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/105392-MS.

Das, S.K. and Butler, R.M. 1998. Mechanism of the Vapor Extraction Processfor Heavy Oil and Bitumen. J. Pet. Sci. Eng.  21: 43-59. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0920-4105(98)00002-3.

Dusseault M.B. and Shafiei, A. 2011. Oil Sands. In Ullmann's Encyclopediaof Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14356007.a26_129.pub2.

Focke, J.W. and Munn, D. 1987. Cementation Exponents in Middle EasternCarbonate Reservoirs. SPE Form Eval  2 (2): 155-167. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/13735-PA.

James, L.A. 2009. Mass Transfer Mechanisms During the Solvent Recovery ofHeavy Oil. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada(2009).

James, L.A., Rezaei, N., and Chatzis, I. 2008. VAPEX, Warm VAPEX, and HybridVAPEX-The State of Enhanced Oil Recovery for In-Situ Heavy Oils in Canada.J. Cdn. Pet. Tech.  47 (4): 12-18. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/08-04-12-TB.

Jorgensen, D.G 1988. Estimating Permeability in Water-Saturating Formations.The Log Analyst  29: 401-409.

Knackstedt, M.A., Arns, C.H., Sheppard, A.P. et al. 2007a. Archie'sExponents in Complex Lithologies Derived from 3D Digital Core Analysis. Paper2007-UU presented at the SPWLA 48th Annual Logging Symposium, Austin, Texas,3-6 June.

Knackstedt, M.A., Arns, C.H., Sheppard, A.P. et al. 2007b. Pore-ScaleAnalysis of Electrical Resistivity in Complex Core Material. Paper SCA2007-33presented at the International Symposium of the Society of Core Analysts,Calgary, Canada, 10-12 September.

Leroy, P., Revil, A., Kemna, A. et al. 2008. Complex Conductivity ofWater-Saturated Packs of Glass Beads. J. Coll. Interf. Sci.  321(1): 103-117.

Lucia, F.J. 1983. Petrophysical Parameters Estimated From VisualDescriptions of Carbonate Rocks: A Field Classification of Carbonate PoreSpace. J. Pet Tech  35 (3): 629-637. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/10073-PA.

Nettelblad, B. 1996. Electrical and Dielectric Properties of Systems ofPorous Solids and Salt Containing Nonpolar Liquids. J. Appl. Phys. 79 (9): 1.

Padhy, G.S., Ioannidis, M.A., Lemaire, C. et al. 2006. Measurement andInterpretation of Non-Archie Resistivity Behavior in Model and Real VuggyCarbonates. Paper SCA2006-11 presented at the International Symposium of theSociety of Core Analysts, Trondheim, Norway, 12-16 September.

Rezaei, N. and Chatzis, I. 2011. Characterization of Heterogeneities inPorous Media Using Constant-Rate Air Injection Porosimetry. J. Pet. Sci.Eng  79 (3-4): 113-124. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2011.08.019.

Rezaei, N., Mohammadzadeh, O., Parsaei, R. et al. 2011. The Effect ofReservoir Wettability on the Production Characteristics of the VAPEX Process:An Experimental Study. Trans. Porous Media  90 (3): 847-867.http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11242-011-9819-5.

Salem, H.S. and Chilingarian, G.V. 1999. The Cementation Factor of Archie'sEquation for Shaly Sandstone Reservoirs. J. Pet. Sci. Eng.  23(2): 83-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0920-4105(99)00009-1.

Sedaee, B. and Rashidi, F. 2006. Application of the SAGD to an IranianCarbonate Heavy-Oil Reservoir. Paper SPE 100533 presented at the SPE WesternRegional/AAPG Pacific Section/GSA Cordilleran Section Joint Meeting, Anchorage,Alaska, 8-10 May. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/100533-MS.

Sharma, M.M., Garrouch, A., and Dunlap, H.F. 1991. Effect of Wettability,Pore Geometry, and Stress on Electrical Conduction in Fluid-Saturated Rocks.The Log Analyst  32: 511-526.

Wong, P., Koplik, J., and Tomanic, J.P. 1984. Conductivity and Permeabilityof Rocks. Phys. Rev. B  30 (11): 6606-6614.

Yazdani, A. and Maini, B. 2005. Effect of Drainage Height and Grain Size onProduction Rates in the VAPEX Process: Experimental Study. SPE Res Eval& Eng  8 (3): 205-213. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/89409-PA.