Optimum Switch Timing for Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) after Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS) in a Viscous Oil Reservoir
Date
2018-06-29
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Abstract
Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) is often adopted as a follow-up process of Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS) for heavy oil exploitations. Conventionally, CSS is first applied, and the operation strategy turns to SAGD after the CSS has reached its economic limit. However, considering the entire well life production, this timing scheme may not be the best. This study analyzes the optimum timing for the switch from CSS to SAGD. A numerical simulation method is employed to optimize the timing for CSS to SAGD and several levels of oil viscosity, permeability, formation thickness, and well spacing are analyzed respectively. AA net present value (NPV) is set as the objective function to evaluate the overall performance and its sensitivity to the switch point. The optimized operating conditions (temperature, pressure, and cycle lengths) corresponding to the highest NPV are also generated. In short, this study helps to maximize the profit of heavy oil development by determining the optimum switch timing from CSS to SAGD processes.
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Liu, S. (2018). Optimum Switch Timing for Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) after Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS) in a Viscous Oil Reservoir (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/32260