L. Chow et Rm. Butler, NUMERICAL-SIMULATION OF THE STEAM-ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE PROCESS (SAGD), Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology, 35(6), 1996, pp. 55-62
Citations number
10
Categorie Soggetti
Energy & Fuels","Engineering, Chemical","Engineering, Petroleum
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.