bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surveillance of Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage in In-Depth Extra-Heavy Oil Reservoir
Authors: Hongyuan Wang , Erpeng Guo 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
In 2008, We presented a paper "Application of Temperature Observation Wells during SAGD Operations in a Medium Deep Burial Extra Heavy Oil Reservoir" at the Petroleum Society's 59th Annual Technical Meeting. After 10 years SAGD technology is already widely adopted in exploiting extra heavy oil in China. This paper summarizes the experience on surveillance of SAGD project in the past years.
During SAGD process the adjustment of steam chamber in both vertical and horizontal direction and operation parameters should base on synthetic surveillance data. In the past, the surveillance approach is very limited and the results cannot be used as effective indicators. The successful application of reservoir based synthetic surveillance approach produced reliable data for management of SAGD project in Du 84 block Liaohe Oil field. The applied technical series include pressure/temperature observation wells, pressure/temperature monitoring in horizontal wells, time-lapse seismic monitoring, micro-gravity test etc. With the help of these monitoring data, the accurate and long term effective database was established.
The application of synthetic monitoring system provides the opportunity of accurate control of steam injection and production. The temperature and pressure observation well can monitor the vertical development of steam chamber, especially in gas-SAGD process. The observation well can detect the vertical sweep area of injected gas which can give effective approach in SAGD management. The temperature and pressure monitoring and tracer test can provide information for connection between injector and producer. 4-Dimensional seismic and 4-Dimensional micro gravity is a new approach of combination for petro-physical technology and petroleum development. 4D seismic not only can remap the geological body but also it can depict the steam chamber distribution in the reservoir. 4D micro gravity monitoring can accurately detect the front of steam chamber. With these data, the distribution of steam zone and residual oil is clear for future reservoir management.
This paper gives a verified approach of surveillance and the corresponding operation adjustment. And this can be guidance for design and application of new SAGD surveillance system.
The Last Chance? - Cyclic Steaming Pilot Project in Demjén West Field
Authors: Szelényi János 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
Demjén West is a shallow oil field with unsaturated paraffinic oil in Northern Hungary. Contrary to the long production history the recovery factor is only 13%. Already from the early years of the field number of experiments were completed to enhance production. Recently a new steam generating technology was tested. The objective was to collect information on the usability of the technology in the field and to test the reservoir behaviour for steaming.
First a technology test and demonstration day was organised for international companies in February 2016. After the successful testing an 8-cycle/8-week long pilot project was planned and completed in the summer of 2016. The cycles contained 2 days steam injection half a day soaking period and 5 days production. New heat resistant well equipment were fabricated for the project and a new well completion was applied. However the pilot was planned for an old existing well with the old SRP system what proved key issues for steam injection.
The paper introduces the steaming technology, the results and observations of this exciting cyclic steaming pilot project. A detailed monitoring system was planned and applied in the project. All the parameters of the new steam generating technology and the injection/production process were monitored. The nearby wells were also monitored and the produced fluids were sampled and tested in lab. The project faced to number of technical difficulties. However contrary to the technical problems and to the significantly less injected steam volume the production increased and the reservoir reacted well as it was expected. Observations proved that the injected steam and hot oxygen cleaned the pores of the near wellbore space from paraffin and heavy particles and improved the oil inflow to the well. The condition of the old well proved to be the weakest element of the process. The new steam generator could provide the planned volume of steam with the planned parameters (pressure and temperature). By solving the key technical problems cyclic steaming can be a viable technology to significantly improve the recovery from this old field.
The pilot project served valuable information for future operation. Cyclic steaming can be right solution to enhance recovery from Demjén West and from similar shallow heavy(er) oil fields. Successful and economically viable projects can be completed with new slim-hole wells and suitable lifting technology.
Thermal EOR Souring Prediction Tool - Technology for Cost Reduction; a Case Study from Thermal EOR Asset, Sultanate of Oman
Authors: Al-Aulaqi Talal , Dindoruk Birol , Zhang Etuan , Ward David , Al-Azri Nasser 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
Thermal EOR has been applied in different reservoirs in Oman to maximize the production from heavy oil prospects. PDO consider the highest HSE standard in their field operation to protect people and the integrity of the assets. In thermal EOR one of the highest HSE and risk integrity is the drastic increase of acid gas production mainly (H2S and CO2).
Historically, the quantification of the acid gas development in thermal EOR developments has been challenging, either leading to underestimation of the acid gas levels or overdesigning the material type with huge cost associated which impact the commerciality of the project especially at the current low oil price. Thus, improvement of the thermal souring prediction capabilities is required for the risk assessment and fit for purpose material selection rather than exotic option.
This work shows the results from an integrated subsurface and surface engineering collaboration to define the geochemical sources of souring in the thermal projects and to quantify the H2S/CO2 profile over the life cycle of the project. For the first time in PDO, a souring prediction workflow was developed and validated by coupling the reaction transport models with reservoir engineering dynamic models. The outcomes are used to define a safe operating envelope and move the operating mindset to be a proactive approach in managing the thermal souring risk.
Laboratory Study of a New EOR-Grade Scleroglucan
Authors: Fournier Remi , Tiehi Julien-Ey , Zaitoun Alain 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
Scleroglucan is a non-ionic exopolysaccharide produced by a specific fungi, called Sclerotium glucanicum. Due to its high viscosifying power and its good stability towards temperature and salinity, scleroglucan has been at the heart of several studies aiming at evaluating its potential for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). As a biopolymer, scleroglucan is environmentally-friendly with no limitation of use in sensitive area such as offshore North Sea. Despite these promising features, the main pitfall of scleroglucan for EOR purposes has been its poor filterability, which is mainly explained by fermentation broth residues and polymer aggregates. This issue led researchers to use tedious filtration methods prior to experiments, which are not applicable in the field. To overcome this limitation, a new process was developed to obtain an EOR-grade scleroglucan which has been submitted to laboratory tests.
The first part of this paper presents bulk experiments with this new EOR-grade scleroglucan. Filtration tests enabled to assess the efficiency of the dissolution process and the homogeneity of the solution. The dissolution method was optimized to obtain a proper solubilization of the polymer. Rheological behavior was also investigated, showing the high viscosifying power of the product, much higher than conventional EOR products like hydrolyzed polyacrylamide.
In a second part, coreflood experiments were performed in high-permeability (Kw(Sw=1)=1.5 D) Bentheimer sandstone and medium-permeability (Kw(Sw=1-So,r)=120 mD) Estaillade limestone. The main highlight is that no particular pre-filtration process was needed prior to injection in the core. Indeed, very good injectivities were obtained in both rock types. Dynamic adsorption was low in Bentheimer sandstone, and in Estaillade limestone in the presence of a residual oil saturation.
This study qualifies this new EOR-grade scleroglucan for EOR applications. With a good injectivity, low adsorption levels, high resistance to temperature and salinity, and low environmental footprint, this polymer could advantageously replace hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, and its derivatives, in hightemperature and high-salinity reservoirs, and in sensitive offshore areas.
Case Study: Realization and Evaluation of Cyclic Steam Stimulation Pilot for Offshore Oilfield, China
Authors: Han Xiaodong , Liu Yigang , Liu Hao , Wang Qiuxia , Zou Jian , Zhang Hua , Wang Hongyu , Wu Xuanren 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
There is abundant heavy oil resource in Bohai oilfield, and only limited resource could be exploited with cold production technologies. Though cyclic steam stimulation is one of the most widely used and effective technology for onshore heavy oil exploitation around the world, this thermal method could not be directly applied for offshore oilfield for the limited space, bearing capacity and HSE requirement of the offshore platform.
For improving the offshore heavy oil production, feasibility study of the cyclic Steam stimulation for offshore oilfield was conducted and the relevant equipment was developed. A compact modular steam generator was specially developed for offshore steam injection process. The matching equipment including fuel tank, sea water desalinization and air compressor that could be easily resembled on the platform were developed. From engineering aspects, corrosion prevention, isolation tubing and wellhead were also provided for offshore operation. And the LD Oilfield whose underground oil viscosity is about 2336 mPa.s was selected for field pilot.
For field pilot, two horizontal wells has been implemented. 5 well times steam injection has been carried out since 2014 and the stimulation has entered the third rounds. Till now, the cumulative thermal oil production is about 60 thousand m3. When compared with the clod production, the peak oil production rate is about 5.3 times and cycle oil productivity is about 2 times that of the cold production, the valid time for each cycle is about 280 days. For analyzing the stimulation characteristics, the variation of temperature, pressure and saturation distribution in the near well region, and parameters analysis are conducted by reservoir simulation. The temperature profile test is also carried for analyzing the producing degree of the horizontal section of the thermal wells. The test result shows that the 300m horizontal section of the thermal well is evenly heated and the producing degree is relatively good.
In this paper, engineering design and field test of cyclic steam stimulation in Bohai Oilfield are introduced in detail. The result of field test shows that the steam generator are feasible to operate on offshore platform and the cyclic steam stimulation is practical to enhance offshore heavy oil production.
Minagish Middle Oolite Miscible Gas Injection Pilot: Inter-Well Tracer Campaign for the First Non-Thermal EOR Project in Kuwait
Authors: Al-Murayri M. T. , Al-Mayyan H. E. , Kamal D. S. , Ziyab D. K. , Chatterjee M. , Hewitt P. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
A Miscible Hydrocarbon Gas injection pilot is being implemented by Kuwait Oil Company in the Minagish Middle Oolite (MN-MO) carbonate reservoir of West Kuwait. The water pre-flush phase of this pilot was initiated in March 2016 in preparation for subsequent miscible gas injection. An Inter-Well Tracer Test (IWTT) was performed during the water pre-flush phase to assess reservoir conformance and connectivity in a complex and highly laminated formation to support reservoir modeling activities.
Implementing an IWTT is an integral part of the overall surveillance/monitoring program to properly evaluate reservoir heterogeneities within and around the selected pilot area prior to miscible gas injection. Three different tracers were injected through the central injector into three geologically distinct, vertically stacked and inter-connected layers. Water samples were collected from three pilot producers on a regular basis for lab analysis to construct produced tracer curves. These tracer curves were then characterized analytically and compared with the original pilot performance forecasts that were generated using a reservoir sector model.
Tracer data showed reasonable breakthrough times and distinct peaks representing different flow paths for every injector-producer pair, involving one injector and three surrounding producers. Analytical interpretation of tracer data was useful to assess ultimate tracer production and swept volumes for each flow path. Based on the observed tracer breakthrough times during the water pre-flush phase, it can be inferred that limited preferential flow is expected during the subsequent miscible gas injection phase. The data from the above-mentioned IWTT and ensuing analytical characterization can be integrated with the on-going simulation activities to generate more reliable performance forecasts for miscible gas injection into the MN-MO carbonate reservoir.
This paper highlights how analytical interpretations can be derived for multiple flow paths in relation to water and miscible gas injection using IWTT data. The results from this study are important to enhance and fine-tune the reservoir simulation models that are being used in the meantime to generate reliable performance forecasts.
A Successful ASP Sweep Evaluation in a Field Pilot
Authors: Guntupalli S. , Kechichian J. , Al-Yaarubi A. , Al-Amri A. , Al-Amri M. , Al-Hinai G , Al-Shuaili K. , Svec Y. , Al Habsi Y. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
A field in southern Oman has been identified for conducting an alkaline surfactant polymer (ASP) pilot project to enhance oil recovery. The potential benefit from ASP flooding had been estimated to be significant, based on coreflood investigations and single-well tests. The ASP pilot was initiated to derisk and support the financial investment decision for full-field implementation.
The vertical saturation estimates were obtained through state-of-the-art nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology in the observation well, which was completed with fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) casing and located midway between the injector and a producer of the pilot. Laboratory ASP flood experiments demonstrated that NMR response is insensitive to the chemistry of ASP/polymer solutions. The tool response provides salinity-independent inference for saturation profiling. These characteristics of NMR technology make it a suitable saturation monitoring tool for fields applying chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR).
The pilot was executed with several phases, starting with pre-ASP waterflooding. This was followed by ASP slug injection, which, in turn, was followed by polymer chase and, ultimately, by chase water injection.
The base vertical saturation profile was established during the last stage of the pre-ASP waterflooding phase. The time-lapse vertical saturation profiles facilitated estimation of incremental desaturation during and after every stage of the injection phases. The dedicated multiphase flowmeters for each producer have also provided realtime oil production profiles to quantify the incremental oil production.
During the ASP pilot, NMR indicated the formation of an oil bank and desaturation due to ASP. This paper discusses the results of NMR during ASP pilot and the insights that NMR brings into understanding of subsurface performance and vertical sweep due to ASP.
Study and Pilot Test of Activator Flooding for Heavy Oil
Authors: Zhang Jian , Wang Shanshan , Zhu Yuejun , Yang Guang , Kang Xiaodong , Wang Xudong , Zhao Wensen 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
To effectively develop heavy oil with apparent viscosity above 150 mPa·s in-situ, a heavy oil activator was designed and applied in the field, which can efficiently increase the viscosity of aqueous phase and the mobility of oil phase. The wettability, interfacial properties and the microscopic dispersion of oil with activator were measured using the contact angle meter and laser scanning confocal microscopy. Experimental results showed that the contact angle between activator and heavy oil was 34.67° and the oil-water interfacial tension could be reduced to 0.1 mN/m by adding activator. Furthermore, it was clearly observed that the crude oil was uniformly dispersed into small drops. For the hybrid system consisting of 660 mPa's crude oil and 1000 mg/L activator with a mixed ratio of 1:1 by volume, the flowing time measured by kinematic viscometers was reduced to 8 s compared with 340 s of single oil system. By adopting the activator flooding, laboratory experimental studies showed the recovery of heavy oil could be enhanced by 14.3% on the basis of water flooding. The change of oil-water front and distribution of saturation field confirmed that the activator had the ability to disperse heavy oil and improve the micro-displacement efficiency, and the contribution rate accounted for about 28% of the total recovery. This obvious effect has been successfully achieved in pilot test of both S Oilfield and D Oilfield. By applying activator huff and puff in S Oilfield for 14months, the total incremental oil reached 44,952 bbl tons. And using activator of 800 mg/L to exploit heavy oil with viscosity of 1170 mPa·s in-situ at 35 °C. After 3 years of injection, the cumulative incremental oil of D oilfield was larger than 120,000 bbl, which means that each ton of activator can ramp up production of 660 barrels oil.
Thermodynamics of Hydrocarbon Solvents at the Pore Scale During Hybrid Solvent-Thermal Application for Heavy-Oil Recovery
Authors: Al-Kindi Ilyas , Babadagli Tayfun 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
Phase behavior of fluids at capillary conditions differs from that in bulk media. Therefore, understanding the thermodynamics of solvents in confined media is essential for modeling thermal EOR applications. The Thomson equation states that pore sizes have a control on boiling points of liquids in capillary channels. As pore spaces become smaller, boiling points become lower than normal boiling temperatures of the same liquids. The target of this paper is to inspect this phenomenon by physically measuring the boiling points of several solvents and compare them with the calculated boiling temperatures for different capillary structures. Furthermore, the feasibility and accuracy of the Thomson equation is investigated to check its applicability in heavy-oil recovery modelling. To do so, Hele-Shaw cells with several gap thicknesses (0.04, 0.45, 1.02, and 12 mm) are used to measure the boiling points of heptane, heptane-decane mixture, and naphtha. Experiments are repeated for the same solvents on homogeneous and heterogeneous micromodels to observe the phase behavior in a more realistic porous medium. Finally, the effect of surface wettability on boiling temperatures is examined in Hele-Shaw and micromodel experiments.
Integrated Method for Numerical Simulation of Foam Flooding in Porous Media in the Absence and Presence of Oil
Authors: Hosseini-Nasab S. M. , Douarche F. , Nabzar L. , Simjoo M. , Bourbiaux B. , Roggero F. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
This paper presents an novel integrated approach for numerical simulation of foam core-flood experiments in the absence and presence of oil. The experiments consisted of the co-injection of gas and Alpha-Olefin Sulfonate (AOS) surfactant solution into Bentheimer sandstone samples initially saturated with the surfactant solution [see (Simjoo & Zitha, 2013)]. The foam model implemented is based on a local equilibrium and describes dependency of foam mobility reduction factor using several independent functions, such as liquid saturation, foam velocity, oil saturation and capillary number. First, a series of numerical simulation was conducted to investigate the effect of surfactant concentration on pressure drop across the core for the foam flooding in the absence of oil. To this end, the dry-out and gas velocity functions in the foam model were determined from the experimental data obtained at low and high-quality regimes of foam flow at a constant injection velocity. Next, pressure drop profiles of foam flooding at two different surfactant concentrations were modelled to determine the parameters of the surfactant-dependent function in the foam model. The simulation results fit the experimental data of pressure drops very well. Then, the numerical simulations investigated the oil displacement, by foam where the main goal was to determine the foam model parameters dedicated to the oil saturation-dependent function. The pressure drop across the core, oil-cut, and oil recovery factor were modelled, and an excellent match was obtained between the pressure profile and the oil recovery obtained numerically compared with those obtained from the corresponding core-flood experiments.
Adaptation to climate change and variability: a case of direct seeded rice in Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: Kakumanu Krishna Reddy , Kotapati Gurava Reddy , Nagothu Udaya Sekhar , Kuppanan Palanisami , Kallam Suresh Reddy 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
Farmers, researchers and policy-makers are increasingly concerned about the potential impacts of climate change. Researchers are using various climate models to assess the impacts and identifying relevant alternative adaptation strategies to mitigate climate change. In India, rice is the major cereal crop grown and is influenced due to climate change and variability, inadequate water supply, labour shortage and methane emissions from rice ecosystems. This necessitates adoption action and upscaling of key adaption strategies like direct seeded rice (DSR) using validated data from rice growing areas in India. The study used experimental data of 2010–2014 and field survey data of DSR and non-DSR farmers collected during 2014. Results show that DSR method has incurred less tillage and labour costs by eluding puddling and transplantation by labour. Large-scale adoption of DSR was observed during 2012–2015 in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. This was mainly due to the delayed monsoon and water supply, reduction in cost of cultivation, capacity building of stakeholders and their active involvement in awareness and training programmes. The study has demonstrated that integrated extension approach in technology dissemination and scaling-out through stakeholder integration is crucial. However, a mission mode framework is needed for technology upscaling at system level.