Downhole heating and hybrid cyclic steam methods: evaluating technologies from the laboratory to the field

Keywords: Enhanced oil recovery, thermal methods, cyclic steam stimulation, cyclic steam injection;, hybrid technologies, downhole heat technologies, numerical simulation, benefit-to-cost ratio, energy balance, renewable energy, environmental index

Abstract

The development of heavy oil reservoirs under steam injection methods is facing multiple challenges due to the volatility of oil markets, energy efficiency, and new and stricter environmental regulations. This study aims to summarize the advances of a Research and Development (R&D) program established by Ecopetrol in 2018 to identify potential opportunities to improve the recovery performance of steam injection projects in heavy
oil reservoirs in the Middle Valley Magdalena Basin (VMM) of Colombia.
This paper summarizes an approach used to evaluate downhole heating and hybrid steam injection technologies assisted by basic benefit-cost ratios and energy and environmental indexes.
Specifically, the methodology is described for the identification of optimum development plan scenarios for heavy oil wells. This study also summarizes recent advances in laboratory studies for the evaluation of hybrid steam flooding technologies (steam plus flue gas and solvents) and provides updates on the hybrid cyclic
steam-foam pilot carried out in two VMM wells.
The proposed approach represents a fast screening method that has proven to be valuable in supporting management decision-making to allocate resources for laboratory and engineering studies to evaluate thermal enhanced oil recovery (tEOR) technologies in Colombia. The proposed methodology has also contributed to reducing the implementation cycle of tEOR technologies following the reservoir analog description of
reserve analysis. The latter was validated with the successful pilot results of the hybrid steam injection with foams implemented in July 2019.

References

Alvarado, V. & Manrique, E. (2010). Enhanced Oil Recovery: An Update Review. Energies, 3(9), 1529–1575. https://doi.org/10.3390/en3091529.

Babadagli, T. (2020). Philosophy of EOR. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2020.106930.

Pérez, R., Sandoval, J., Barbosa, C., Delgadillo, C. L., Trujillo, M., Osma, L., ... & Rodríguez, H. (2018). Comparación de alternativas para mejora de la inyección cíclica de vapor mediante simulación numérica. Fuentes, el reventón energético, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.18273/revfue.v16n2-2018007.

Dong, X., Liu, H., Chen, Z., Wu, K., Lu, N. & Zhang, Q. (2019). Enhanced oil recovery techniques for heavy oil and oil sands reservoirs after steam injection. Applied Energy, 239, 1190–1211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.01.244

Osma, L.; Garcia, L.; Perez, R.; Barbosa, C.; Botett, J.; Sandoval, J. & Manrique, E. (2019). Benefit-Cost and Energy Efficiency Index to Support the Screening of Hybrid Cyclic Steam Stimulation Methods. Energies. 12(24), 4361. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12244631

Yepes, A., Navarrete D.A., Phillips J.F., Duque, A.J., Cabrera, E., Galindo, G., … Ordoñez, M.F. (2011). Estimación de las emisiones de dióxido de carbono generadas por deforestación durante el periodo 2005-2010. Bogotá, Colombia: Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología, y Estudios Ambientales (IDEAM).

Perez, R. A., García, H. A., Manrique, E., Rodríguez, H. A., Mehta, S. A., Moore, R. G., … Gutierrez, D. (2020). Experimental Performance of Steam-based Hybrid Technologies to Improve Efficiency in Colombia Heavy Oil Reservoirs (SPE-201564). In SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/201564-MS

Yañez, E., Ramírez, A., Nuñez-López, V., Castillo, E., & Faaij, A. (2020). Exploring the Potential of carbon capture and storage-enhanced oil Recovery as a mitigation strategy in the Colombian oil industry. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2019.102938.

Harding, T. G., Ali, S. M., & Flock, D. L. (1983). Steamflood performance in the presence of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology, 22(05). 30-37. https://doi.org/10.2118/83-05-02.

Afzali, S., Rezaei, N. & Zendehboudi, S. (2018). A comprehensive review on enhanced oil recovery by Water Alternating Gas (WAG) injection. Fuel, 227, 218-246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.04.015.

Alafnan, S., Aljawad, M., Alismail, F., & Almajed, A. (2019). Enhanced Recovery from Gas Condensate Reservoirs through Renewable Energy Sources. Energy & Fuels, 33(10), 10115-10122. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b01761.

Aljawad, M. S., Alafnan, S., & Abu-Khamsin, S. (2019). Artificial Lift and Mobility Enhancement of Heavy Oil Reservoirs Utilizing a Renewable Energy-Powered Heating Element. ACS omega, 4(22), 20048-20058. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.9b03209

Nellist, M. D. (2018, March). Integration of solar steam facilities with existing steam generation systems. In SPE EOR Conference at Oil and Gas West Asia. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/190441-MS

Roig, R., Agarwal, A., & Kovscek, A. R. (2018, April). Sensitivity analysis for solar-generated steam for enhanced oil recovery. In SPE Western Regional Meeting. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/190075-MS

Kobro, H. (2001). Steam Generation System for injection steam into oil Wells. Patent US 6,205,289 B1. Washington, USA: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales de Colombia (IDEAM). Atlas de viento de Colombia. Retrieved from: https://biblioteca.minminas.gov.co/pdf/ATLAS%20VIENTO%20ENERGIA%20EOLICA%20DE%20COLOMBIA%20UPME.pdf

Benavides, H. O., Simbaqueva, O., & Zapata, H. J. (2017). Atlas de radiación solar, ultravioleta y ozono de Colombia. Bogotá DC, Colombia: Atlas IDEAM. Retrieved from: http://atlas.ideam.gov.co/visorAtlasRadiacion.html

Enel-Codensa, Colombia Electric Energy Costs. (s. f.). Retrieved from: https://www.enel.com.co/content/dam/enel-co/espa%C3%B1ol/personas/1-17-1/2020/Tarifario-enero-2020.pdf

ECOPETROL. Departamento de Análisis y Proyección de Precios Ecopetrol. Reporte diario de precios de mercado de petróleo y productos 26 de abril de 2019.

Perez, R., Rodriguez, H., Barbosa, C., Manrique, E., Garcia, L., & Rendon, G. (2020, July). Improving CSS Performance with Preformed Foam: Teca-Cocorna Field Case. In SPE Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/199104-MS.

Mansarovar Energy, Technologies at Mansarovar Energy. Retrieved from: http://www.mansarovar.com.co/en/operaciones/cadena-de-valor/desarrollo

SPE, WPC, AAPG, SPEE, SEG, SPWLA & EAGE, _. (2018, August 8). Petroleum Resources Management System (2018 version). Society of Petroleum Engineers. Retrieved from: https://www.spe.org/en/industry/petroleum-resources-management-system-2018/.

Rodríguez, E., Barrios, W., Sandoval, R., Santos, N., & Cortes, I. (2008). Numerical simulation for cyclic steam injection at Santa Clara field. CT&F-Ciencia, Tecnología y Futuro, 3(4), 107-128.

Trigos, B. E. M., Rueda, N. S. F., Rodriguez, P. E., Rivera de la Ossa, J. E., & Naranjo Suarez, C. E. (2013, July). Key strategies in the heat management for steamflooding projects, Teca Field Application. In SPE Enhanced Oil Recovery Conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/165223-MS.

Andarcia, L., Bermudez, J. M., Reyes, Y., Caycedo, H., & Suarez, A. F. (2014, September). Potential of Steam Solvent Hybrid Processes in Llanos Basin, Colombia. In SPE Heavy and Extra Heavy Oil Conference: Latin America. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/171049-MS.

Trigos, E., Lozano, M. E., & Jimenez, A. M. (2019, April). Cyclic Steam Stimulation Enhanced with Nitrogen. IOR 2019–20th European Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery 2019(1), 1-12. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/190173-MS.

Hansen, J., & Kharecha, P. (2018). Cost of carbon capture: can young people bear the burden? Joule, 2(8), 1405-1407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2018.07.035.

UPME (Unidad de Planeación Minero Energética). (2016). Emission Calculator for Colombia. Retrieved from: http://www.upme.gov.co/Calculadora_Emisiones/aplicacion/calculadora.html.

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). (2017). Greenhouse Gases Equivalencies Calculator–Calculations and References. Retrieved from: https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references.

CREG (Comisión de Regulación de Energía y Gas). (2012). Inversiones y gastos de AOM para la actividad de generación en zonas no interconectadas utilizando recursos renovables. Retrieved from: https://www.creg.gov.co/sites/default/files/corpoema_zni_aom.pdf.

UPME (Unidad de Planeación Minero Energética). (2018). Informe mensual de variables de generación y del mercado eléctrico colombiano. Retrieved from: http://www.siel.gov.co/portals/0/generacion/2018/Informe_de_variables_Ago_2018.pdf.

How to Cite
Perez, R., Garcia Duarte, H., Osma, L., Barbosa Goldstein, C., Garcia Rodríguez, L. E., Botett Cervantes, J. A., … Manrique, E. (2020). Downhole heating and hybrid cyclic steam methods: evaluating technologies from the laboratory to the field. CT&F - Ciencia, Tecnología Y Futuro, 10(2), 49–60. https://doi.org/10.29047/01225383.257

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Published
2020-12-17
Section
Scientific and Technological Research Articles

Altmetric

Funding data

QR Code

Some similar items: