Please enable JavaScript for this site to function properly.
OnePetro
  • Help
  • About us
  • Contact us
Menu
  • Home
  • Journals
  • Conferences
  • Log in / Register

Log in to your subscription

and
Advanced search Show search help
  • Full text
  • Author
  • Company/Institution
  • Publisher
  • Journal
  • Conference
Boolean operators
This OR that
This AND that
This NOT that
Must include "This" and "That"
This That
Must not include "That"
This -That
"This" is optional
This +That
Exact phrase "This That"
"This That"
Grouping
(this AND that) OR (that AND other)
Specifying fields
publisher:"Publisher Name"
author:(Smith OR Jones)

Pore Network Modelling of Heavy Oil Depressurisation: a Parametric Study of Factors Affecting Critical Gas Saturation and 3-Phase Relative Permeabilities

Authors
Igor Bondino (Heriot-Watt U.) | Steven R. McDougall (Heriot-Watt U.) | Gerald Hamon (Total S.A.)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2118/78976-PA
Document ID
SPE-78976-PA
Publisher
Society of Petroleum Engineers
Source
SPE Journal
Volume
10
Issue
02
Publication Date
June 2005
Document Type
Journal Paper
Pages
196 - 205
Language
English
ISSN
1086-055X
Copyright
2005. Society of Petroleum Engineers
Disciplines
5.3.2 Multiphase Flow, 4.3.3 Aspaltenes, 5.1 Reservoir Characterisation, 4.1.1 Process Simulation, 5.8.6 Naturally Fractured Reservoir, 4.3.4 Scale, 5.3.1 Flow in Porous Media, 4.6 Natural Gas, 5.1.1 Exploration, Development, Structural Geology, 5.2.1 Phase Behavior and PVT Measurements
Downloads
1 in the last 30 days
616 since 2007
Show more detail
View rights & permissions
SPE Member Price: USD 12.00
SPE Non-Member Price: USD 35.00

Summary

This study deals with the application of pore-scale network modelingtechniques to depressurization in heavy-oil systems. A three-phase simulatorhas been developed to account for the fundamental steps of such adepressurization process, from the nucleation of embryonic bubbles, to theirgrowth by solute diffusion and expansion, to the final stages of coalescence,migration, and production. The model is utilized to examine the impact of avariety of different physicochemical properties—including bubble density andgas-oil diffusion coefficient—and different depletion strategies upon criticalgas saturation and three-phase relative permeability. Results pertaining toheavy oils are also compared to those from light-oil depressurizationsimulations, and a number of important differences are highlighted.

The first sensitivity analyzes heavy-oil depressurization under conditionsof instantaneous and progressive nucleation (IN and PN). In the first scenario,the evolution of gas is characterized by embryonic bubbles that are nucleatedrandomly soon after the bubblepoint pressure is reached. In the case of PN, astochastic algorithm has been developed from related experimental observations.This models the progressive nucleation of additional bubbles as a function oflocal supersaturation (characterized by pore-scale variations in dissolved gasconcentration). It is shown here that IN and PN observations are notnecessarily contradictory—the model reconciles the two phenomena and shows howeach relates to the underlying experimental parameters.

The vast majority of depressurization studies reported in the literature todate have tended to focus upon light oils and binary systems. However, therather different characteristics of heavy oils---high interfacial tension, lowgas/oil ratio (GOR), and high oil density---suggest that such studies may notbe particularly representative of heavy-oil depressurization. In order toinvestigate this issue, a second set of sensitivity analyses is performed,whereby the network model is used to compare critical gas saturations andrelative permeabilities arising from the depressurization of light and heavyoils. It is found that substantial differences can arise in the two systems. Asa consequence, improved recoveries (with higher critical gas saturations) arepredicted for some heavy-oil systems.

Introduction

Heavy-oil solution-gas drive is not a well understood production mechanismbecause a wide range of different petrophysical parameters and experimentalfactors interact in a rather complex way. The work presented here attempts toclarify the situation by examining these interactions in the controlled settingof numerical simulation.

Heavy oils can be very viscous (viscosities of thousands of centipoise areoften reported) and are characterized by relatively low gas diffusivities.Their high asphaltene content, low dissolved gas/oil ratio, and high(essentially pressure-invariant) interfacial tension (IFT) are other well-knowncharacteristics.

At the production stage, additional characteristics becomeapparent---heavy-oil depressurization often results in higher-than-expectedrecovery (up to 15% of the original oil in place 1 ), and foamy oils are oftenobserved at the wellbore. This nonequilibrium foamy oil is composed of a largenumber of small bubbles dispersed in the oleic phase (approx 1 bubble per grain2 ; approx 1.5x10 13 bubbles per ml 3 ). This is thought to provide additionaldriving energy for oil production and consequently leads to increased recovery.Associated critical gas saturations can be very high (up to 40% reported byMaini et al. 4 ) as the formation of a continuous, free-flowing gas phase isdelayed. 5

The knowledge base relating to heavy-oil depressurization has been expandingin recent years, but the exact physical and chemical processes characterizingthese reservoirs are not yet entirely understood. Contradictory experimentalobservations and heuristic interpretations are often found in the literature.For example, some authors do not see any evidence of foamy oil behavior, andothers simply highlight very low gas mobility and high oil viscosity as themain reasons for better performance--- low critical gas saturations are alsoreported. 6--8

Micromodel experiments by Maini 1 and Bora et al. 9 show importantdifferences in the numbers of bubbles as the depletion parameters change. Fastdrawdown rates lead to a high bubble density (several orders of magnitudehigher than at the lower rates), although this is mainly as a result of bubblebreak-up caused by high viscous pressure gradients. Micromodel observationsalso report high supersaturations for bubble nucleation in heavy oils, oftenaccompanied by reduced bubble coalescence, thought to be caused by highasphaltene content. Bora et al. 9 also point out that nucleation within theirheavy oil is not instantaneous.

The high values of viscosity are believed to be a key factor in theheavy-oil depressurization process. Among the first to assess this effect wasHandy, 10 who obtained higher recoveries with viscous oils during solution-gasdrive. He also underlined how low diffusion coefficients---typical of highviscosity oils---may superficially produce the same effect as an increaseddepressurization rate. In their micromodel experiments with both heavy andlight oils, Kamp et al. 11 found higher levels of supersaturation for heavyoils caused by very low diffusion rates (once again, correlated to highviscosity).

Lago et al. 2 studied the depletion of a series of heavy oils and a lighteroil---more bubbles were seen to nucleate in heavy oils. An upper limit for thenumber of bubbles nucleated was estimated to be 1 bubble/grain, but this highdensity could again be caused by bubble fragmentation. Nucleation was observedto be progressive, with a continuous increase in the number of bubblesthroughout the depletions (although this was less marked for the lightoil).

Two different nucleation mechanisms were observed by Tang and Firoozabadi 12: IN for low-GOR heavy oils and progressive nucleation PN for high-GOR heavyoils. Increasing GOR would be expected to result in higher bubblepointpressures and lower IFTs. These, in turn, could lead to prolonged low levels ofsupersaturation and the possibility of progressive nucleation.

File Size  931 KBNumber of Pages   10

References

1. Maini, B.B.: "Foamy Oil Flowin Primary Production of Heavy Oil Under Solution Gas Drive ," paper SPE56541 presented at the 1999 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition,Houston, 3-6 October.

2. Lago, M., Huerta, M., and Gomes, R.: "Visualization study duringdepletion experiments of Venezuelan heavy oils using glass micromodels," JCPT(January 2002) 41.

3. Lillico, D.A. et al.: "Gas bubble nucleation kinetics in a live heavyoil," Colloids and Surfaces, A: Physiochemical and Engineering Aspects (2001)192, 25.

4. Maini, B., Sarma, H.K., and George, A.E.: "Significance of foamy-oilbehaviour in primary production of heavy oils," JCPT (November1993)50.

5. Albartamani, N.S., Farouq Ali, S.M., and Lepski, B.: "Investigation of Foamy Oil Phenomenain Heavy Oil Reservoirs," paper SPE 54084 presented at the 1999 SPEInternational Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium, Bakersfield,California, 17-19 March.

6. Tang, G.-Q. and Firoozabadi, A.: "Gas- and Liquid-Phase RelativePermeabilities for Cold Production From Heavy-Oil Reservoirs," SPEREE(April 2003) 70.

7. Firoozabadi, A. and Aronson, A.: "Visualization and Measurement of GasEvolution and Flow of Heavy and Light Oil in Porous Media," SPEREE(December 1999) 550.

8. Kumar, R., Pooladi-Darvish, M., and Okazawa, T.: "Effect of Depletion Rate on GasMobility and Solution Gas Drive in Heavy Oil ," SPEJ (June 2002) 213.

9. Bora, R., Maini, B.B., and Chakma, A.: "Flow Visualization Studies ofSolution Gas Drive Process in Heavy Oil Reservoirs With a GlassMicromodel," SPEREE (June 2000) 224.

10. Handy, L.L.: "A Laboratory Study of Oil Recovery by Solution Gas Drive,"Trans., AIME (1958) 213, 310.

11. Kamp, A.M. et al.: "Experimental Investigation of FoamyOil Solution Gas Drive," paper SPE 69725 presented at the 2001 SPEInternational Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium, Porlamar, MargaritaIsland, Venezuela, 12-14 March.

12. Tang, G.-Q. and Firoozabadi, A.: "Effect of GOR, Temperature, andInitial Water Saturation on Solution-Gas Drive in Heavy-Oil Reservoirs,"SPEJ (March 2005) 34.

13. Scherpenisse, W. et al.: "Predicting Gas Saturation BuildupDuring Depressurization of a North Sea Oil Reservoir," paper SPE 28842presented at the 1994 SPE European Petroleum Conference, London, 25-27October.

14. Firoozabadi, A. and Kashchiev, D.: "Pressure and Volume Evolution DuringGas Phase Formation in Solution Gas Drive Process," SPEJ (September 1996)219.

15. Li, X. and Yortsos, Y.C.: "Visualization and Numerical Studiesof Bubble Growth During Pressure Depletion ," paper SPE 22589 presented atthe 1991 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, 6-9October.

16. Tsimpanogiannis, I.N. and Yortsos, Y.C.: "An Effective Continuum Model for theLiquid-To-Gas Phase Change in a Porous Medium Driven by Solute Diffusion: I.Constant Pressure Decline Rates," paper SPE 71502 presented at the 2001 SPEAnnual Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, 30 September-3October.

17. El-Yousfi, A. et al.: "Physical Mechanisms for Bubble GrowthDuring Solution Gas Drive," paper SPE 38921 presented at the 1997 SPEAnnual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, 5-8October.

18. Arora, P. and Kovscek, A.R.: "Mechanistic Modeling of Solution GasDrive in Viscous Oils," paper SPE 69717 presented at the 2001 SPEInternational Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium, Porlamar, MargaritaIsland, Venezuela, 12-14 March.

19. Hunt, E.B. and Berry, V.J.: "Evolution of gas from liquids flowingthrough porous media," AIChEJ (1956) 2, No. 4, 560.

20. McDougall, S.R. and Sorbie, K.: "The application of network modelingtechniques to multiphase flow in porous media," Petroleum Geoscience (1997) 3,161.

21. McDougall, S.R. and Mackay, E.J.: "The impact of pressure-dependentinterfacial tension and buoyancy forces upon pressure depletion in virginhydrocarbon reservoirs," Trans IchemE (July 1998) 76, Part A.

22. McDougall, S.R. and Sorbie, K.S.: "Estimation of critical gas saturationduring pressure depletion in virgin and waterflooded reservoirs," PetroleumGeoscience (1999) 5, 229.

23. Firoozabadi, A., Ottesen, B., and Mikklesen, M.: "Measurement of Supersaturation andCritical Gas Saturation," SPEFE (December 1992) 337.

24. Moulu, J.C. and Longeron, D.: "Solution-gas drive: experiments andsimulation," Proc., paper presented at the 1989 European Symposium on ImprovedOil Recovery, Budapest, 25-27 April.

25. Kortekaas, T.F.M. and Poelgeest, F.V.: "Liberation of Solution Gas DuringPressure Depletion of Virgin and Watered-Out Oil Reservoirs," SPEREE(August 1991) 329.

26. Li, X. and Yortsos, Y.C.: "Critical Gas Saturation: Modeling andSensitivity Studies," paper SPE 26662 presented at the 1993 SPE AnnualTechnical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, 3-6 October.

27. McManamey, W.J. and Woolen, J.M.: "The diffusivity of carbon dioxide insome organic liquids at 25° and 50°," AIChEJ (1973) 19, No. 3, 667.

28. Poulsen, S. et al.:"Network Modeling of Internal and External GasDrive," paper SCA 2001-17 presented at the 2001 International Symposium of theSCA, Edinburgh, 16-19 September.

    • Issue Preprint
    • Issue 05
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 06
    • Issue 05
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 06
    • Issue 05
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 06
    • Issue 05
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 06
    • Issue 05
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 06
    • Issue 05
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 06
    • Issue 05
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
    • Issue 04
    • Issue 03
    • Issue 02
    • Issue 01
Show more

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.

  • Home
  • Journals
  • Conferences
  • Copyright © SPE All rights reserved
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Help
  • Terms of use
  • Publishers
  • Content Coverage
  • Privacy
  Administration log in