Improving SAGD by applying emulsion based reservoir conformance control method

由于油砂储层的非均质性，该研究直接解决了蒸汽辅助重力泄油（SAGD）过程中的一致性问题（即蒸汽室发育不均匀，从而导致沥青开采可用储层的部分损失）。为了提高非均质油砂储层的热效率，从而提高SAGD作业的经济性，需要对低渗透层进行地球机械膨胀，使其能够渗透到蒸汽中。在低流动性层的扩张过程中，临时封堵高渗透层是至关重要的。该项目将开发用于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。在高渗区渗透率降低99.5%以上，促进SAGD蒸汽室的均匀生长。该项目旨在利用碱、表面活性剂和纳米颗粒在盐水中乳化沥青的协同作用，在中等界面张力条件下生成稳定的乳液。通过各种物理模型试验，对乳剂在SAGD一致性控制中的性能进行评价和优化。将建立乳状液封堵降低渗透率和控制渗透率的数学和数值模型。Brion Energy和BitCan已经同意支持上述乳化液的一致性研究，并在Brion的油藏中测试该项目开发的乳化液体系。油藏模拟将用于SAGD一致性控制作业的现场测试设计，并将通过分析现场测试结果进行验证。本项目的研究成果将适用于加拿大其他油砂储层的SAGD一致性控制膨胀启动和启动后SAGD一致性改善，以及全球相关工艺。实施拟议的油砂开采新技术的预期效益是显著节约能源、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.**