Analysis of the pressure responses in Grosmont Carbonates Formation to steam injection considering a fractal geometry for the fractured-vuggy system

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Grosmont Formations in the Northern Alberta are fractured carbonates with an estimated 508 billion barrels of bitumen in place. In these carbonate reservoirs, the presence of natural fractures and vugs is a characteristic added to the challenge for oil production, in addition to of producing the highly viscous bitumen, which may be further aggravated with the existence of vugs. Therefore, a good understanding of the interaction among matrix, fractures, and vugs and their correct characterization are essential for the effective oil production. In this work, we propose a technique to characterize the fracture network through analyzing the pressure responses resulted from the steam injection. The industrial partner can use such a characterization for the design of an efficient recovery process. The outcome of this work will increase our understanding of carbonate heavy oil resources where there is a need to characterize and understand different physical mechanisms involved, before and after field developments. This study will enlighten the characteristics of bituminous carbonate reservoirs, thus, will facilitate the development of oil production from this vast resources in Canada.