Abstract

Heavy oil recovery requires either heat (SAGD) or a solvent (VAPEX) to reduce its high viscosity first and then the less viscous oil can be recovered. We show here that the existing data on oil recovered in VAPEX process in sandpacks show a square root dependence on the height of pay zone, following expectation. This dependence had remained uncertain and is of importance in oil field operation.

Highlights

  • Viscous heavy oil cannot be recovered from underground reservoirs without the aid of an external resource like heat or solvents, which reduces its viscosity before recovery

  • Steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process is a thermal process where steam is used as a heat source to heat up the heavy oil, reducing the viscosity to ~5-10 mPa.s

  • The alternate, which requires no water, is the vapor assisted petroleum extraction (VAPEX) process that uses gases or vapors which form a part of products on condensation

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Summary

Introduction

Viscous heavy oil (above 100 mPa.s) cannot be recovered from underground reservoirs without the aid of an external resource like heat or solvents, which reduces its viscosity before recovery. In m3/(m-width.s), where ΔSo is the difference between the fractional pore volume containing oil before and after displacement. ΔρD(1−φ) μ dlnφ where Δρ is the density difference between pure oil and displacing fluid (vapor).

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