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

在油砂地层中形成大面积蒸汽室以熔化沥青并通过重力泄油（如SAGD（蒸汽辅助重力泄油））生产油的过程由于油砂中存在夹层页岩而严重受损。如果层间页岩被损坏，则注入的蒸汽可以不受阻碍地有效地传播到地层中。为了有效地做到这一点，必须彻底了解这个过程。在试图模拟这样的热采油过程中，正确描述地质材料在非等温条件下的热机械行为是至关重要的。该项目旨在开发一个本构（应力-应变）模型，该模型基于从一系列简单到先进的实验室实验测试与蒸汽相互作用建立的物理学。该模型将针对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.