Development of a geomechanical model for shale and oil sand interactions with steam in heat stimulation processes

在油砂地层中形成一个广泛的蒸汽室来融化沥青，并通过重力排水（蒸汽辅助重力排水）生产石油的过程，由于油砂中存在互层页岩而受到严重影响。如果层间页岩被破坏，则注入蒸汽可以有效地不受阻碍地进入地层。要有效地做到这一点，就必须彻底理解这个过程。在试图模拟这种热采油过程时，正确描述非等温条件下岩土材料的热力学行为是至关重要的。本项目旨在建立一个基于物理的本构（应力-应变）模型，该模型是通过一系列简单到高级的实验室实验测试与蒸汽相互作用建立的。该模型将根据材料的各种矿物学和微观结构特征进行开发。

The process of creating an extensive steam chamber in oil sand formations to melt the bitumen and produce the oil by gravity drainage as in SAGD (Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage) is seriously compromised by the presence of interbedded shale in oil sand. If the interbedded shale is damaged, then the injected steam can propagate effectively into the formation unhindered. To do this effectively it is imperative to understand the process thoroughly. In trying to model such a thermal oil recovery process, the correct description of the thermo-mechanical behavior of geomaterials under non-isothermal conditions is of prime importance. This project aims to develop a constitutive (stress-strain) model based on the physics established from a series of simple to advanced lab experimental testing with steam interaction. The model will be developed for the various mineralogical and microstructural characteristics of the material.