Using exponential geometry for estimating oil production in the SAGD process

Abstract

Abstract SAGD, a steam injection method, is known as one of the most effective ways of heavy oil recovery. In addition to existing numerical methods, a fast alternative for evaluation of heavy oil recovery from a porous media by SAGD is to use semi-analytical models, which in recent years have considerably progressed. Along this evolution, this study is aimed at introducing a model based on that suggested by Reis. Therefore, a more accurate estimation of oil production rate, steam chamber expansion and the amount of steam required for the process can be made. In this model, the most important mechanism for heavy oil recovery by SAGD is heat conduction and consequently gravity drainage of heated oil. The innovation established in this work is representing the location of oil–steam interface by an exponential function to excel the linear assumption in Reis's model. The presented model is finally compared with experimental, numerical and field data to assess its quality.