Two-Dimensional Numerical Simulation of Wet Combustion in an Asphalt Ridge Tar Sand Block: Topical Report

摘要

The Tar Sand Reservoir Simulator (TSRS) is expanded in order to simulate the multidimensional nature of the thermal recovery of oil from a tar sand block in Western Research Institute's block reactor. TSRS now rigorously accounts for many of the phenomena associated with the thermal processing of tar sand in one or two dimensions. In the two-dimensional mode, fundamental differential equations describing heat and mass transfer are solved in each grid block of a rectangular grid which divides the tar sand bed in the plan view. Consequently, all properties and conditions which occur in the tar sand are assumed constant in the third dimension (perpendicular to the plan view). Several other enhancements are incorporated into the model and are discussed, including boundary heat transfer, porosity changes due to coke deposition, and gravity effects. The model is used to simulate a recent block reactor test which was configured as a quarter of a five-spot pattern and consisted of the steam-oxygen combustion of Asphalt Ridge tar sand. A comparison of model and experimental results shows areas of qualitative agreement; however, major differences are observed, particularly with the flow patterns generated within the block. These differences and the combustion performance observed experimentally are explained by vertical variation, fingering, and secondary cracking of produced oil vapor, none of which are accounted for in the model. 14 refs., 16 figs., 2 tabs. (ERA citation 14:017035)