2018 - Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit & Exhibition
4-7 November 2018, Rio Othon Palace, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
| Local Thermal Effect on Vapor Extraction (VAPEX) Process for Heavy Oil Enhanced Recovery Abdollah Esmaeili1; 1CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY (CIU), Nicosia, Cyprus; PAPER: 37/Energy/Regular (Oral) SCHEDULED: 14:25/Wed./Asian (60/3rd) ABSTRACT: Heavy oil has a high viscosity, so production form heavy oil reservoir is very difficult. One of the methods which are used to increase recovery factor from this reservoirs is miscible injection. Among miscible injection methods is vapor extraction method via injection the vapor of hydrocarbon solvent which is a suitable constitute for thermal methods in reservoir where heat loss is high. The vapor extraction (VAPEX) process, a solvent-based enhanced oil recovery process has been found promising for some heavy oil reservoirs. Viscosity of heavy oil will be decreased by injection the vapor of hydrocarbon solvent into it. This phenomenon is the base of vapor extraction (VAPEX) method. One of the disadvantages of VAPEX process which has been reported by most of previous researchers is its low production rate. In this paper, effect of temperature on increasing recovery and production rate of this process has been investigated. Obtained results show that by increasing temperature, oil recovery and production rate by this process will be increased. References: [1] Das, S. K. and R. M. Butler, (1998). "Mechanism of the Vapor Extraction Process for the Heavy Oil and Bitumen", Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Vol.2 PP 43-59. [2] Azin, R., Kharrat, R., Ghotbi, C., Vossoughi, S. (2005). "Applicability of the VAPEX Process to Iranian Heavy Oil Reservoirs", SPE 92720 [3] Laherr, J. H.,(1996). "Upstream Potential of the Middle East in the World Context", SPE [4] Karmakar, K. and Maini, B. B.,(2003) "Applicability of the Vapor Extraction Process to Problematic Viscous Oil Reservoirs.", SPE 84034 [5] Butler, R.M., Mokrys, I. J. (1989). "Solvent Analog Model of Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage", AOSTRA Journal of research, Vol. 5, P. 17 [6] Das, S. K. and R. M. Butler, (1998). "Mechanism of the Vapor Extraction Process for the Heavy Oil and Bitumen", Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Vol.2 PP 43-59. [7] Karmaker, K., Maini, B.B. (2003). "Experimental Investigation of Oil Drainage Rates in the VAPEX Process for Heavy Oil and Bitumen Reservoirs", SPE 84199. [8] Redford, D. A. "the Use of Solvents and Gases with Steam in the Recovery of Bitumen from Oil Sands", J. Cdn. Pet. Tech., 1982 [9] Harding, T. G., Farouq Ali, S M., and Flock, D. L., "Steam Performance in the Presence of Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen", J. Cdn. Pet. Tech., Vol. 30, 1983 [10] Nasr, T. N., Prowse, D. R. and Fraunfeld, T. W. J., "the Use of Flue Gas With Steam in Bitumen Recovery from Oil Sands", J. Cdn. Pet. Tech.,Vol. 62, 1987 [11] Bagci, S. and Gumrah, F., "Steam-Gas Drive Laboratory Tests for Heavy-Oil Recovery", In Situ (1998) 22, No. 3, 263 [12] Butler, R. M. and Mokrys, I. J.(1991) "A New Process (VAPEX) for Recovering Heavy Oils Using Hot Water and Hydrocarbons Vapor", JCPT, Vol.30, No.1. [13] Butler, R. M. and Mokrys, I. J., "In-Situ Upgrading of Heavy Oils and Bitumen by Propane Deasphalting: the Vapex Process", SPE 25452, 1993. [14] Ted W. J. F., Kissel G. and Zhou s., "PVT and Viscosity Measurements for Lloydminister-Aberfeldy and Cold Lake Blended Oil Systems", SPE 79018, 2002. [15] Salama, D. A., Kantzas, (2005). "Experimental Observation Miscible Displacement of Heavy Oils with Hydrocarbons Solvents", SPE 97854 [16] Azin, R., Kharrat, R., Ghotbi, C., Vossoughi, S. (2005). "Applicability of the VAPEX Process to Iranian Heavy Oil Reservois", SPE 92720 [17] Salama, D. Kantzas A., (2005). "Monitoring of Diffusion of Heavy Oils with Hydrocarbon Solvents in the Presence of Sand", SPE 97855 [18]] Luo, P. (2005). "Effects of Asphaltene and Solvent Concentration on Heavy-Oil Viscosity", SPE 97778 [19] Goite, J.G., Mamora, D. D., Ferguson, M. A. (2001). "Experimental Study of Morichal Heavy Oil Recovery Using Combined Steam and Propane Injection", SPE 69566. [20] Mamora, D. D., Rivero, J. A., Venturini, G. J., "Experimental and Simulation Studies of Steam-Propane Injection for the Hamaca and Duri Fields", SPE 84201, (2003). [21] Zhao L. "Steam Alternating Solvent Process", SPE 86957, 2004. [22] Palmgren C., "High Temperature Naphtha to Replace Steam in the SAGD Process", SPE 30294, 1995. |
