Simulation Study of Warm VAPEX Process Using Water-soluble Solvent

Vapor extraction (VAPEX) is considered a promising alternative to the SAGD process to recover Alberta's heavy oil and bitumen resources. In the past, researchers have found that the main drawback of the VAPEX process is its slow oil production rate due to the inherent mechanism of relatively slower mass transfer compared to heat conduction and convection. Warm VAPEX, which combines the effect of both heating and solvent dilution, can increase the oil production rate significantly. In this study, the feasibility of injecting dimethyl ether (DME) to extract Athabasca bitumen is investigated through numerical simulations. A synthetic reservoir model with fine grids was developed to investigate the displacement mechanisms in a hot DME VAPEX process. Thermal dynamic properties of a bitumen-DME-water system were modelled and validated with experimental measurements. The performance of hot DME VAPEX is compared with a SAGD process in terms of an oil rate, cumulative oil production and energy input. Simulation results indicate that the oil rate of warm DME VAPEX is comparable to SAGD, and the energy consumption is dramatically reduced. Subsequently, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to examine the effect of various parameters on the overall performance of DME-based warm VAPEX. Injecting DME at higher temperatures is effective in reducing the solvent-oil ratio. Oil production can be significantly promoted by increasing the injection pressure. The original reservoir water saturation also has a significant impact on the performance of warm DME VAPEX. For higher water saturation reservoirs, oil production is enhanced, but more DME is trapped in the water phase.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Engineering – Chemical & Petroleum

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Schulich School of Engineering

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Qi, Rundong

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Chen, Zhangxin

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Hu, Jinguang
• Pereira-Almao, Pedro R.

• VAPEX
• Solvent
• Dimethyl ether

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/37685

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/111806