The Horizontal Extended Velocity Model of Steam Chamber Front in Dual-Well SAGD Process

Abstract

The dual-well steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process could effectively enhance the oil recovery, and the heat transfer on stream chamber front plays the key role on SAGD process efficiency. The expanding velocity of steam chamber front directly characterizes heat transfer efficiency, which is also important index to evaluate SAGD process and to identify effectively development scheme. The existing theoretical model simplifies expansion process as flat propulsion, while the angle could change during the actual process. In this paper, it was assumed that the extension of steam chamber has two patterns: plate expansion process and sector expansion process. The horizontal extended velocity model of plate expansion process and the angular velocity model of sector expansion process were built based on derivation of the heat-transfer mechanism model. These two different velocities could be calculated with the actual data coming from an SAGD process in Xinjiang Oilfield, and the comparable results suggested that the angle change could not be ignored as the difference between these two velocities could be up to 15%.

Copyright 2017, Shaanxi Petroleum Society.

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2017 International Field Exploration and Development Conference in Chengdu, China, 21–22 September 2017.

This paper was selected for presentation by the IFEDC&IPPTC Committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, as presented, have not been reviewed by the IFEDC&IPPTC Committee and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the IFEDC&IPPTC Committee, its members. Papers presented at the Conference are subject to publication review by Professional Committee of Petroleum Engineering of Shaanxi Petroleum Society. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper for commercial purposes without the written consent of Shaanxi Petroleum Society is prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of IFEDC&IPPTC. Contact email: paper@ifedc.org or paper@ipptc.org.