Pore-scale microfluidics for improved efficiency in thermal oil recovery with steam assisted gravity drainage

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This proposal describes the development of a microfluidic platform to inform and improve Canadian oil recovery operations, in partnership with Calgary-based Suncor Energy. Two microfluidic platforms will be developed to study pore-scale transport phenomena in the steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process. The focus is on screening of conditions and additives for improved economic and environmental performance. The work is enabled by the concept of leveraging microfluidic methods to understand and quantify pore-scale processes in subsurface oil recovery operations. The workplan involves two parallel Thrusts. The first Thrust is a micromodel effort while the latter is a form of analytical lab-on-a-chip for oil recovery analysis. The micromodel will enable the visualization and evaluation of wetting and emulsion dynamics as well as assessment of aggregate oil recovery and production rates as a function of running conditions and additives. The microfluidic screening system will be used to isolate and further quantify the physics behind the wetting and emulsion dynamics and specifically the role of additives in that process. Suncor Energy is strongly supporting this project through both cash and in-kind contributions. The company is uniquely well positioned to leverage the research and HQP outputs of the program. The opportunity for combined environmental and economic impact in Canada is tremendous. A small increase in Canada's SAGD effectiveness could save megatonnes of CO2 emissions annually. Our preliminary published work (co-authored with Suncor) indicates very significant increases in effectiveness are indeed possible.