Dual Horizontal Well Air Injection Process
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AbstractThis paper summarizes experimental results of air injection process using dual horizontal well pattern. Experiments were conducted using a three dimensional laboratory model. Canadian heavy oil sample was used to conduct the experiments at 180 psia. The combustion cell was fitted with 48 thermocouples to measure the temperatures in the model and to monitor the combustion front propagation. Laboratory results were analyzed to study the feasibility of combustion assisted gravity drainage (CAGD) process and determine the key parameters. In this technique, horizontal injector was placed at the top Layer of sand pack and used for injection of enriched air. Mobilized oil and flue gases were produced through horizontal production well at the bottom of the cell.An important feature of CAGD process is the properly oriented dual horizontal wells that assist in development of combustion chamber and stabilized growth of the combustion front in the reservoir. Temperature profile showed that combustion chamber first developed near injection side of the model and then propagated in forward direction during the experiment. Peak temperature of about 530 C was recorded. Post experiment sand pack analysis confirmed that coke deposition resulted in formation of gas seal barrier between injector and producer which enhances the circulation of the injected air in the combustion chamber. Ultimate oil recovery estimated about 72% OOIP and thermal upgrading was near 3 API enhancement in produced oil density.
