A new method for improving heat calculations in heavy oil steamflood design

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2009

Abstract

Presented in the paper is a new analytical method for calculating heat requirements for mature steam flooding projects. In principle, the method modifies modeling of steam overlay - an important phenomenon in the steam flooding process. Traditional steam gravity overlay models lack precision in predicting heat requirements as they call for infinite steam injection rate at the start of the project. A design based on these models would grossly overestimate the required heat input resulting in poor economics. Using a lump capacity system, the new method provides accurate estimation of desirable underground heat requirement for heat injection. The new model generates smooth overall solution with no infinite values at the start of the project. It doesn't require numerical simulations and is simple enough for Excel-based calculations. The calculations match field data with errors not exceeding 2%. The new model enables designing steam injection rate in time. The study shows the required heat injection rate can be either almost constant or should exponentially decrease with time.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Archives of Mining Sciences

First Page

787

Last Page

802

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