Effects of Lean Zones on Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage Performance

• DOI: 10.3390/en10040471
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03T17:32:30Z
• Authors: Jinze Xu; Zhangxin Chen; Xiaohu Dong; Wei Zhou
• Keywords: Steam-assisted gravity drainage; Saturation (graph theory); Steam injection

A thorough understanding of the effects lean zones and improvement steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) operations with such heterogeneities is critically important for reducing disadvantages zones. The numerical model shows: (1) SAGD most influenced by single-layer zone above-injector (AI) location; decrease interval distance increase thickness water saturation in zones, detrimental effect on performance increases; (2) period connate initial saturations multiple-layer (3) injection pressure properly improves leaky oil sands. field-scale study indicates: well pair 1 affected studied pad due to widest distribution above its injector, a hybrid cyclic steam stimulation (CSS)/SAGD method proposed overcome practical problem low this area; simulation results prove that CSS/SAGD better than conventional