Numerical simulation of non-isothermal flow in oil reservoirs using a two-equation model

Abstract

This work aims to simulate three-dimensional heavy oil flow in a reservoir with heater-wells. Mass, momentum and energy balances, as well as correlations for rock and fluid properties, are used to obtain non-linear partial differential equations for the fluid pressure and temperature, and for the rock temperature. Heat transfer is simulated using a two-equation model that is more appropriate when fluid and rock have very different thermal properties, and we also perform comparisons between one- and two-equation models. The governing equations are discretized using the Finite Volume Method. For the numerical solution, we apply a linearization and an operator splitting. As a consequence, three algebraic subsystems of linearized equations are solved using the Conjugate Gradient Method. The results obtained show the suitability of the numerical method and the technical feasibility of heating the reservoir with static equipment.