Effects of Different Parameters in Thin Muddy Interlayer on SAGD Production in Oil Sands

doi:10.19657/j.geoscience.1000-8527.2018.03.11

Abstract

Abstract:

Thin muddy interlayers are widely developed in Mackay River oil sands. The centimeter-scale interlayers have a great impact on the steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) performance. Based on the actual parameters in the Mackay River oil sands block, a numerical simulation model with the thin muddy interlayers located between or above injector-producer was established, and the thin muddy interlayers with different locations, length, permeability, thickness and numbers were simulated to investigate their impacts on the SAGD performance, and the threshold parameters were obtained. The results show that the thin muddy interlayers above the injector have minor impact on the SAGD performance, while those located between the injector-producer have significant adverse impacts. The closer the thin muddy interlayers from to the producer, the later would the steam chamber develop, and the lower is the cumulative oil production. When the length of thin muddy interlayer exceeds 20 meters and the number of thin muddy interlayer exceeds seven, the steam chamber can hardly be developed, and the permeability and thickness have little impact on the SAGD performance. Therefore, SAGD deployment should avoid the thin muddy interlayers between injector-producers. The findings have substantial guiding significance in conducting SAGD development planning in minimizing geology risks and improving SAGD efficiency.

Key words: thin muddy interlayer, oil sand, steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), steam chamber, thermal recovery

CLC Number:

TE345

KONG Lingxiao, QI Mei, ZHANG Shuaichao, LIU Pengcheng. Effects of Different Parameters in Thin Muddy Interlayer on SAGD Production in Oil Sands[J]. Geoscience, 2018, 32(03): 537-546.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig.1 Well pattern used for simulation

Table 1 Parameters of Mackay River reservoir for simulation

油藏压力 /MPa	油藏温度 /℃	孔隙度	水平渗透率 /10^-3μm²	垂向渗透率 /10^-3μm²	含油饱和度	甲烷摩尔分数	水平井长/m	井组间距/m	注采井距/m	基底距离/m
0.80	10.0	0.32	3 500	2 800	0.85	0.01	850	120	5	2

Fig.2 Comparison of production performance among different locations

Fig.3 Comparison of temperature distributions for different locations at the different time

Fig.4 Comparison of production performance among different lengths

Fig.5 Comparison of production performance among different permeabilities

Fig.6 Comparison of production performance among different thickness

Fig.7 Comparison of production performance among different numbers

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