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

该提案描述了与总部位于卡尔加里的森科尔能源公司合作，开发一个微流控平台，以告知和改进加拿大的石油开采业务。将开发两个微流控平台来研究蒸汽辅助重力排水(SAGD)过程中的孔尺度输运现象。重点是筛选条件和添加剂，以改善经济和环境性能。这项工作得益于利用微流体方法来理解和量化地下石油开采作业中的孔隙尺度过程的概念。 该工作计划涉及两个平行推进。第一个推力是一个微型模型，而后者是一种用于石油回收分析的分析芯片实验室形式。微观模型将使润湿和乳化动力学的可视化和评估，以及作为运行条件和添加剂的函数的聚合油采收率和产量的评估。微流控筛选系统将用于分离和进一步量化润湿和乳化动力学背后的物理因素，特别是添加剂在这一过程中的作用。 森科尔能源公司通过现金和实物捐助大力支持这一项目。该公司处于独特的有利地位，可以利用该计划的研究和HQP成果。 加拿大的环境和经济综合影响的机会是巨大的。加拿大SAGD效率的小幅提高每年可以节省数百万吨的二氧化碳排放。我们的初步出版工作(与森科尔共同撰写)表明，有效性的显著提高确实是可能的。

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.