Analysis of dimensionless similarity complexes’ influence on steam-assisted gravity drainage using the integral model

About the authors:

Alexander Ya. Gilmanov, Cand. Sci. (Phys.-Math.), Senior Lecturer, Department of Modeling of Physical Processes and Systems, School of Natural Sciences, University of Tyumen, Tyumen, Russia; a.y.gilmanov@utmn.ru; ORCID: 0000-0002-7115-1629

Konstantin M. Fedorov, Dr. Sci. (Phys.-Math.), Professor, Scientific Advisor of the Institute of Physics and Technology, University of Tyumen; k.m.fedorov@utmn.ru

Alexander P. Shevelev, Cand. Sci. (Phys.-Math.), Associate Professor, Professor, Department of Modeling of Physical Processes and Systems, School of Natural Sciences, University of Tyumen, Tyumen, Russia; a.p.shevelev@utmn.ru; ORCID: 0000-0003-0017-4871

Abstract:

This article analyzes dimensionless complexes of similarity sensitivity of steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) model. The application of SAGD for development of hard-to-recover reserves is complicated by the need to choose a rational development system. Therefore, the task of modeling the process of SAGD with subsequent analysis of sensitivity of technological indexes from the essential parameters and characteristics of the reservoir is relevant. Existing works have not conducted a comprehensive analysis of all values influence. Such analysis is conducted for the first time in this article. This work aims to analyze the influence of main characteristics (steam injection rate, steam temperature, well pattern, depression and repression on wells, reservoir thickness, heat capacity) on technological parameters of SAGD. The main methods include de-dimensioning of the physical and mathematical model of the process and calculations using an explicit finite-difference scheme. Dimensionless similarity complexes with a significant contribution to SAGD are distinguished. Values of sweep efficiency and cost-effective time at different values of selected dimensionless complexes of similarity are defined. The greatest influence on SAGD is affected by three dimensionless similarity complexes, characterizing respectively the ratio of water and oil flows, heat losses vertically and horizontally, and the development system. The results show that there are some effective values of depression on the formation and the distance between pairs of wells. Based on the results of calculations, the authors provide recommendations for the future application of the method on a real field.

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