Experimental investigation of innovative superheated vapor extraction technique in heavy oil reservoirs: A two-dimensional visual analysis

Songyan Li, Rui Han, Peng Wang, Zijian Cao, Zhaomin Li and Guangwei Ren

Energy, 2022, vol. 238, issue PC

Abstract: Steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) has been widely employed for heavy oil exploration, which however suffers low oil displacement efficiency and high-water consumption. Conventional vapor extraction (VAPEX) remediates those issues, nevertheless, accompanied by low oil production rate with cold or warm solvents injection. Here, an innovative thermal VAPEX was investigated for when injecting superheated solvents (>160OC). The thermal properties of several solvents were compared to indicate the impacts of temperature and solvent concentration. Three sets of two-dimensional visualization experiments were conducted to elucidate the changes of temperature field and solvent chamber, characterized by oil recovery, cumulative oil exchange rate and solvent retention. The results showed that a hot solvent with a higher carbon number resulted in a larger latent heat of vaporization and a better viscosity reduction effect by dissolution and heating. The viscosity reduction rate of n-pentane (below 10 wt%) was approximately 70%. Solvent chamber developed step-wisely: rising stage, lateral expansion stage and descending stage. Over liquid solvent, solvent vapor rendered greater sweep efficiency (75%), displacement efficiency (85%), much lower solvent retention (10%), high oil recovery (65%), and cumulative oil exchange rate (8 t/t). Current studies provided a reliable experimental basis to further exploit thermal vapor on site.

Keywords: Superheated VAPEX; Heavy oil reservoir; Visualization analysis; Oil recovery; Solvent retention rate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:238:y:2022:i:pc:s0360544221021307

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.121882

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