Vertical-Horizontal Well Configuration for Steam-Solvent Co-Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional well configurations for steam-solvent co-injection in heavy oil recovery, such as SAGD and VAPEX, face challenges with gas blanket formation that reduces heat transfer and hampers effective steam chamber development, leading to inefficient heavy oil recovery and high costs.
Innovation Solution
A new well configuration combining vertical and horizontal wells for solvent-steam co-injection, where vertical injectors and producers are alternately located above a horizontal production well, facilitating efficient gas transport and minimizing gas accumulation, thereby enhancing heat transfer and oil mobilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional horizontal well configuration is used for steam injection, then steam chamber can be formed, but gas blanket accumulates at the steam chamber front reducing heat transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional horizontal well configuration to a vertical well configuration for steam injection. This dimensional change allows steam to be injected vertically upward, creating a steam chamber that expands laterally rather than vertically, thereby preventing gas blanket accumulation at the steam chamber front and improving heat transfer efficiency to the heavy oil.
2Productivity
If direct steam generator is used for co-injection, then steam and CO2 are produced together, but CO2 causes blanket effect that retards steam chamber development
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs vertical steam injection instead of horizontal injection to change the geometry of steam chamber development. This vertical injection approach allows the steam chamber to expand laterally in a horizontal direction, preventing CO2 gas blanket from forming an insulative layer at the steam chamber front, thus maintaining effective heat transfer while utilizing direct steam generation for simultaneous steam and CO2 production.
3Strength
If extensive steam injection is used to recover heavy oil, then oil viscosity is reduced, but water consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses vertical steam injection to create a steam chamber that expands laterally, improving the efficiency of heat transfer to the heavy oil. This configuration reduces the amount of steam required to achieve effective oil viscosity reduction and mobility enhancement, thereby decreasing water consumption for steam generation while maintaining effective heavy oil recovery.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration improves oil production rates, reduces startup time, and optimizes recovery processes by creating a gas transport channel that minimizes gas blanket formation, leading to increased heavy oil recovery and reduced water consumption.
Implementation Method 1
At the interface between the steam chamber and cold oil, steam condenses and heat is transferred to the surrounding oil
Implementation Method 2
steam is injected continuously into the injection well, where it rises in the reservoir and forms a steam chamber
Implementation Method 3
heated oil becomes mobile and drains, together with the condensed water from the steam, into the production well due to gravity segregation within the steam chamber
Implementation Method 4
The process relies on molecular diffusion and mechanical dispersion for the transfer of solvent to the bitumen for viscosity reduction
Implementation Method 5
The process relies on molecular diffusion and mechanical dispersion for the transfer of solvent to the bitumen for viscosity reduction
Implementation Method 6
The solvent condenses with steam at the boundary of the steam chamber. The condensed solvent dilutes the oil and reduces its viscosity
Implementation Method 7
The condensed solvent dilutes the oil and reduces its viscosity in conjunction with heat from the condensed steam
Data Source
AI summary
A well configuration for co-injection processes, wherein a horizontal producer well at the bottom of the pay is combined with injection or injection and producer wells that are vertical and above the lower horizontal production well. This well arrangement minimizes “blanket” effects by non-condensable gases.