NUMERICAL-SIMULATION OF THE STEAM-ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE PROCESS (SAGD)

Physical and numerical models can be employed together to better under stand the SAGD process. When there are inadequate measured physical pr operties as input data, and insufficient built-in mathematical process es, it is beneficial to validate a numerical model by history matching physical model results. Based on Chung's experimental data from a phy sical model, a two-dimensional, three-phase (bitumen, water and steam) and two-component (water & bitumen) black oil numerical model for the SAGD process was developed and tested, using the CMG ''STARS'' therma l simulator. Both the ''Spreading Steam Chamber'' and the ''Rising Ste am Chamber'' processes were simulated . The numerical results agree re asonably well with the measured data for cumulative oil production, re covery percentage and temperature profiles in the model at different t imes. The results from the numerical simulation were found to be relat ively insensitive to the form of the relative permeability functions e mployed. Linear relative permeability curves were employed to simulate the experimental production results. The model can be employed as a t ool to aid in sensitivity studies and in the interpretation of the lab oratory results.