Effects of Reservoir Heterogeneities, Thief Zone, and Fracture Systems on the Fast-SAGD Process

摘要

This study presented a numerical investigation for evaluating the potential applicability of Fast-steam-assisted gravity drainage recovery process under complex reservoir conditions, such as shale barriers, thief zones with bottom and/or top water layers, and fracture systems in Cleanvater formation. The simulation results indicated that the near well regions are very sensitive with shale layers and only long, continuous shale barriers (larger than 50 m or 25%), which can effect Fast-steam-assisted gravity drainage performance at the above well regions. Besides that, the thief zones have a strongly detrimental effect on Fast-steam-assisted gravity drainage. The results also proved that Fast-steam-assisted gravity drainage recovery process enhanced in the presence of vertical fractures, but horizontal fractures were harmful on the recovery. This article is a worthy guideline for Fast-steam-assisted gravity drainage operations in complex geological reservoirs.