Fundamental studies, physical and mathematical modelling of a solvent vapour extraction (VAPEX) process for in-situ enhanced heavy oil recovery

如何有效、经济地从加拿大巨大的稠油矿床中开采稠油是一个关键的技术挑战。溶剂蒸气抽提（VAPEX）是一种现场非热强化稠油开采工艺，其中气态溶剂从上部水平注入井注入到稠油油藏中，然后溶剂稀释的稠油通过重力向下排出并从下部水平生产井生产。VAPEX工艺是目前使用的稠油热采方法（如蒸汽辅助重力泄油（SAGD））的一种有前途的替代方法。它是一种节能、经济、环保的稠油开采技术。此外，由于热方法不适合大多数加拿大重油油藏，VAPEX在加拿大更有吸引力。

How to effectively and economically recover heavy oil from the tremendous heavy oil deposits in Canada is a key technical challenge. Solvent vapour extraction (VAPEX) is an in-situ non-thermal enhanced heavy oil recovery process in which a gaseous solvent is injected from an upper horizontal injection well into a heavy oil reservoir and the solvent-diluted heavy oil is then drained downward by gravity and produced from a lower horizontal production well. The VAPEX process is a promising alternative to the currently used thermal methods for heavy oil recovery, such as steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD). It is an energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sound heavy oil recovery technology. Also, as thermal methods are not suitable for most Canadian heavy oil reservoirs, VAPEX is even more attractive in the Canadian context.