Objective
The main objective of the project is to show that steamflooding, which is applied routinely to the recovery of heavy oil, can be applied economically to the recovery of medium viscosity oil i. e
. can compete with waterflooding.
Another objective is to assess the beneficial effect of the distillable oil bank. In our previous project we have elaborated at length on the competition between film flow effects and the distillable oil bank to lower the "residual oil saturation" in the steam zone. In our present project we focus our attention on factors influencing the behaviour of the steam condensation front and their effects on the vertical sweep efficiency.
The transparent scale model, after initial technical problems particularly related to the application of vacuum techniques, works satisfactoryly. Experiments are carried out.
A numerical model based upon the finite element method has been developed for this project and will be used for interpretation of experiments and extrapolation to field conditions. The finite elements make it possible to accurately calculate sharp front behaviour.
The model can be extended to comprise, apart from gravity and viscous forces, capillary forces and heat exchange effects.
The model will be used in the economical evaluation for oil recovery calculations.
Steam displacement applied to heavy oil reservoirs, with a low primary and secondary potential, leads to an appreciable extra oil recovery. Indeed, steam drive is routinely applied in heavy oil reservoirs.
Application of steamdrive to medium viscosity oil reservoirs (with a lower primary and secondary recovery potential) leads to a higher sweep efficiency than its application in heavy oil reservoirs. Also distillation effects will give a larger contribution to the recovery efficiency or medium viscosity oils. These distillation effects have been attributed to the distillable oil bank, which is formed near the steam condensation front. This leads to alower ( heavy) oil saturation in the steam sept zone.
Furthermore, owing to an improved mobility ratio the sweep efficiency will be enhanced by these distillation effects.
The innovating aspect of the present project is to improve, with the help of laboratory experiments, existing mathematical/physical models with the aim to quantify the sweep efficiency depending on oil viscosity and oil composition. Furthermore, we expect to introduce the streamfunction approach in the mathematical/physical modeling of the steam displacement process.
In this way we want to investigate under which circumstances steam flooding can be applied to the recoverry of medium viscosity oils i. e. can complete with water flooding. Where possible use will be made of field data for which we can call upon the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij.
The project consists of the following phases :
1. Design and building of a reactor with auxiliary equipment.
2. Visual studies of the steamdrive process in a large scale model .
3. Execution of the experiments.
4. Theoretical description of the experimental results and extrapolation to field conditions.
5. Economical evaluation of a steam drive, based on field parameters and mathematical/physical model calculations.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
2600 Delft
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.