Steam flow law in horizontal wells when considering reservoir heterogeneity

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20200374

Abstract

Abstract:

Steam injection in horizontal wells for thermal recovery of heavy oil is a complex and changeable process. The prediction of thermal properties of steam along horizontal wells is critical to the uniform production of reservoirs. In this paper, considering the mutual coupling effects of reservoir permeability, confining pressure, and steam phase transition, a comprehensive mathematical model for predicting steam injection flow in horizontal wells was established. Compared with the on-site logging data, the accuracy of the model was verified. The simulation results show that under a single variable condition, the larger the steam injection pressure at the heel, the faster the mass flow and steam dryness decrease. When the steam injection pressure drops from 11 MPa to 8.5 MPa, the steam distribution distance doubles. At the same position, the higher the steam dryness at the heel, the greater the mass flow in the steam injection well, and the faster the steam pressure decrease. Double the steam injection dryness, the pressure drop is almost doubled, but the longer steam injection distance. The larger the steam injection flow at the heel, the faster the steam pressure decreases, and the decrease in the steam dryness in the tube slows down. When the steam injection flow increases by 1.75 times, the pressure drop increases by 5.3 times. The higher the reservoir permeability, the faster the steam dryness decreases. By obtaining the general rules of steam distribution in horizontal wells to provide theoretical support for on-site steam injection, the steam distribution effect can be effectively improved to increase production and reduce consumption.

Key words: gas-liquid flow, thermodynamic properties, phase change, horizontal well, steam injection, heterogeneous reservoir

摘要：

稠油热采水平井注蒸汽是一个复杂多变的过程，水平井沿程蒸汽热物性的预测对于储层的均匀动用十分关键。考虑储层渗透率、围压和蒸汽相变等条件的相互耦合影响，建立了预测水平井注汽流动的综合数学模型。与现场测井数据进行对比分析，验证了模型的准确度。模拟结果表明，单一变量条件下，水平井跟部注汽压力越大，注汽井内质量流量和蒸汽干度下降越快，当注汽压力由11 MPa降为8.5 MPa时，配汽距离增加1倍；在水平井相同位置处，跟部注汽干度越高，注汽井内质量流量越大，且蒸汽压力下降越快，注汽干度提高1倍时，压降也几乎增加1倍；跟部注汽流量越大，蒸汽压力下降越快，注汽流量提高1.75倍时压降提高了5.3倍，但管内蒸汽干度下降趋缓；储层渗透率越高，注汽井内的蒸汽干度下降越快。该模型可以为现场注汽提供理论支撑，有效提高配汽效果达到增产降耗。

关键词: 气液两相流, 热力学性质, 相变, 水平井, 注蒸汽, 非均质储层

CLC Number:

TE 03

LI Duan,LIN Riyi,WANG Xinwei. Steam flow law in horizontal wells when considering reservoir heterogeneity[J]. CIESC Journal, 2020, 71(12): 5479-5488.

李端,林日亿,王新伟. 考虑储层非均质时注汽井内蒸汽流动规律[J]. 化工学报, 2020, 71(12): 5479-5488.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig.1 Micro-element schematic of steam injection in a horizontal well

Fig.2 Comparison of steam temperature simulation results with field data

Table 1 Basic parameters of a horizontal well

参数	数值	参数	数值
水平井注汽管内径，D/m	0.076	储层热扩散系数, a_r/(m²/s)	0.8×10^-6
水平井注汽管外径, D_wo/m	0.0889	储层热导率, λ_r/(W/(m·℃))	2.9
井深, H/m	800	油藏厚度, H_r/m	20
水平井环空外径, D_hw/m	0.124	水平井长度, L/m	300
注汽管内壁绝对粗糙度, e/m	0.1×10^-3	油藏热容量, M_h/(J/(m³·℃）)	1.8×10⁶
储层水平方向渗透率, K_x/μm²	0.5	原油黏度, μ_oil/(mPa·s)	100000
储层深度方向渗透率, K_z/μm²	0.3	地表温度, T_surf/℃	20
高渗带深度方向渗透率, K_z_2/3/μm²	0.6/0.5	注汽时间, τ/s	110000

Fig.3 Variation of perforation flow with steam injection pressure

Fig.4 Variation of steam dryness (a) and annular steam dryness [(b),(c)] with steam injection pressure

Fig.5 Variation of steam pressure (a) and annulus pressure (b) in the tube with steam injection dryness

Fig.6 Variation of perforated steam flow rate with steam injection dryness

Fig.7 Variation of steam pressure (a) and dryness (b) with steam injection flow

Fig.8 Variation of annulus vapor pressure (a) and perforation flow (b) with reservoir permeability

Fig.9 Variation of annulus steam dryness with reservoir permeability

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