Improving SAGD by applying emulsion based reservoir conformance control method

所提出的研究直接解决了一致性问题（即，不均匀的蒸汽室开发，因此沥青回收的可用储层的部分损失）。为了提高热效率并因此提高SAGD操作在非均质油砂储层中的经济性，低渗透率区域需要地质机械地膨胀以使它们可渗透蒸汽。在低流度层膨胀期间，暂时封堵高渗透层至关重要。本项目将开发用于SAGD一致性控制的乳液封堵技术。在本项目中，将在高达典型蒸汽温度（~ 200 ℃）的温度下生成热稳定的水包沥青乳液。在高渗透率区域将实现超过99.5%的渗透率降低，并且将促进SAGD蒸汽室的均匀增长。该项目的目标是通过利用碱、表面活性剂和纳米颗粒在盐水中乳化沥青时的协同作用，在中等界面张力条件下产生稳定的乳液。将通过进行各种物理模型试验来评价和优化乳化液在SAGD一致性控制中的性能。将开发通过乳化液堵塞降低渗透率和控制一致性的数学和数值模型。Brion Energy和BitCan已同意支持本文提出的基于乳液的一致性管理研究，并在Brion的油藏中测试该项目中开发的乳液系统。SAGD一致性控制作业现场试验设计将进行油藏模拟，并通过分析现场试验结果进行验证。该项目的研究成果将适用于加拿大其他油砂油藏的SAGD一致性控制膨胀启动和启动操作后的SAGD一致性改善，以及全球的相关工艺。实施所提出的油砂回收新技术的预期效益是显著的节能、减少水消耗和减少温室气体排放。

The proposed research directly addresses the conformance problem (i.e., uneven steam chamber development and therefore partial loss of available reservoir for bitumen recovery) in the Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) process due to the heterogeneity of oil sands reservoirs. To improve the thermal efficiency and therefore the economics of SAGD operations in heterogeneous oil sands reservoirs, the low permeability zones need to be geo-mechanically dilated to make them permeable to steam. It is crucial to temporarily block the high-permeability zones during dilation of the low mobility zones. This project will develop an emulsion blocking technique for SAGD conformance control. In this project, thermally stable bitumen-in-water emulsions will be generated at temperatures up to typical steam temperature (~200oC). More than a 99.5% permeability reduction in high permeability zones will be realized, and a uniform growth of the SAGD steam chamber will be promoted. This project will target to generate stable emulsions under moderate interfacial tension conditions by utilizing the synergy between alkalis, surfactants, and nanoparticles in the emulsification of bitumen in brine. The performance of emulsions in SAGD conformance control will be evaluated and optimized by conducting various physical model tests. Mathematical and numerical models for permeability reduction and conformance control by emulsion blocking will be developed. Brion Energy and BitCan have agreed to support the herein proposed emulsion-based conformance management research, and to test the emulsion systems developed in this project in Brion's reservoirs. Reservoir simulation will be performed for field test design of SAGD conformance control operations and will be validated by analyzing field test results. The research outcomes of this project will be applicable to SAGD conformance controlled dilation start-up and SAGD conformance improvement after start-up operations in other oil sands reservoirs in Canada and to related processes globally. The anticipated benefits of implementing the proposed new technique for oil sands recovery are significant energy savings, reduced water consumption, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.