bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Integrating Reservoir Simulator and Model Predictive Control Software for Automating SAGD Well Pair Operations
Authors: Patel Kalpesh , Aske Elvira Marie , Fredriksen Morten 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Model predictive control (MPC) technology has been successfully used in many midstream and downstream processes to control and optimize processes, production and overcome operating challenges. In spite of this, there are no documented applications of MPC on upstream heavy oil extraction processes, such as steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD). MPC can be used in SAGD process to stabilize well pair operating variables and thus help optimize production.
As a first step in the initiative of implementing MPC technology to control SAGD process, we investigate the feasibility of controlling the SAGD process with MPC by integrating the process control software with a reservoir simulator consisting of a single SAGD well pair. For this purpose we ran a computer-based model using commercial reservoir simulator software coupled with proprietary MPC software. This allowed us to run different control configurations along with different reservoir models to investigate the effectiveness of MPC technology.
The paper discusses the simulation setup and results of a typical simulation run indicating that MPC technology can be used to stabilize important SAGD process variables, such as subcool and steam chamber pressure. In addition, this method can help optimize production by enabling maintenance of these process variables at their optimum.
The success of this investigation also demonstrates the ability to connect commercial reservoir simulator software with other computer programs opening up the possibility to test a wide range of algorithms for SAGD process control and optimization.
The Effect of Solvents on the Viscosity of an Alberta Bitumen at In Situ Thermal Process Conditions
Authors: Motahhari H. , Schoeggl F. F. , Satyro M. A. , Yarranton H. W. 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
The design and optimization of solvent assisted thermal recovery processes for heavy oil and bitumen require accurate predictions of viscosity as a function of temperature, pressure, and composition. In this case study, the performance of the Expanded Fluid (EF) viscosity model is tested on viscosity data for an Alberta bitumen diluted with carbon dioxide (5.2 wt%), ethane (5.1 wt%), propane (7.6 and 16 wt%), n-butane (14.5 wt%), n-pentane (15 and 30 wt%) and n-heptane (15 and 30 wt%) at temperatures from 20 to 175°C and pressures up to 10 MPa. The main input to the EF model is the density of the fluid and densities were measured at the same conditions as the viscosity measurements.
The viscosity of the bitumen was fitted with average absolute relative deviation (AARD) of 8%. The viscosities of the diluted bitumen mixtures were predicted without tuning with an overall AARD of 17% when using measured densities as an input. The viscosity predictions were improved to an AARD of 7% using generalized viscosity binary interaction parameters. When using densities calculated with an excess volume based mixing rule, the viscosity predictions were slightly more deviated with an overall AARD of 10%.
The EF model predictions were used to evaluate the effectiveness of n-alkane solvents in reducing bitumen viscosity at in situ steam-solvent process conditions. The solubility of the solvent in bitumen was found to be the main factor controlling the mixture viscosity. The less volatile the solvent is, the greater is the viscosity reduction at a given pressure and temperature. As the process temperature increases, the greater is the viscosity reduction from a given solvent due to increased solubility at higher steam saturation pressures.
A Practical Approach to History-matching Large, Multi-well SAGD Simulation Models: A MacKay River Case Study
Authors: Liu Frank , Wang Jin , Morris Paul 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
History-matching is commonly used to calibrate numerical simulation models to validate geological and reservoir engineering inputs and ensure the reliability of model predictions. While history-matching can yield a powerful forecasting tool, thermal SAGD history-matching presents a host of challenges, particularly in terms of computational time and numerical tuning difficulties associated with large thermal simulation models. Typically, single well or small multi-well models are developed and calibrated to generate meaningful production forecasts. However, these predictions are only valid prior to steam chamber coalescence and the models are insufficient for life-of-well forecasting. Hence, it is necessary to build and calibrate large multi-well simulation models within a reasonable timeframe.
The oldest SAGD wells at Suncor's Mackay River (MR) property are part of the initial Phase 1 development. This phase consists of 25 well pairs that commenced steam injection in September 2002. This paper presents a calibration process for Phase 1 simulation model, generated through Suncor's geostatistical modeling process, incorporates more than 9 years of production history and contains approximately 1.4 million active cells. The process described has several components: 1) rigorous data quality control, 2) establishing appropriate boundary conditions, 3) numerical tuning, and 4) a focus on global rather than detailed local changes.
Using the process described herein, a Phase 1 history match was achieved which honours actual field rate and pressure history. The history match results are presented on well/pattern/phase basis. This process has subsequently been applied to MR Phase 2 and 3 with significant efficiency improvements.
A process is presented that addresses many of the issues that arise in validating and history-matching large, complex simulation models. It is shown that history-matching multi-wells SAGD performance with a long operation history is feasible, practical, and useful. The calibrated modeling processes gives confidence in understanding the reservoir and reduces the uncertainty of future forecasting results.
Optimization of a Vertical-Horizontal Heavy Oil Thermal Operation by using Automated Field-scale Control
Authors: Bao Yu , Wang Jingyi (Jacky) , Gates Ian D. 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Given its water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere, it is critical to optimize the steam injection strategy and steam conformance in steam-based oil sands recovery processes such as cyclic steam stimulation and steam- assisted gravity drainage to minimize the steam-to-oil ratio and maximize the cumulative oil volume produced. Given the heterogeneity of oil sands reservoirs, robust adaptive oil sands processes which respond to the system to continuously shift the operation towards desired operational objectives are desired. This kind of adaptive control can be achieved by proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control. PID automated control is a relatively simple method to control well operations in thermal processes by using observed data already measured in existing steam-based recovery processes. Here, a vertical-horizontal hybrid well configuration within an oil sands reservoir, with reservoir properties previously tuned by a history-match to field data, is operated under PID control to demonstrate that automated control can yield improvements of recovery process performance. Here, the well configuration consists of multiple vertical injectors and a few horizontal producers – early in the process, cyclic steam stimulation is initially done in the vertical wells to establish thermal communication within the reservoir. After sufficient communication is accomplished, the steam is injected into the vertical wells and fluids are produced through the horizontal wells in a steam-assisted gravity drainage mode. Automated control must accomplish thermal communication between the vertical and horizontal wells and thereafter the steam must be controlled to minimize the steam-to-oil ratio and maximize the oil rate. The results demonstrate that PID control can be used to improve the cSOR and volume of oil produced.
Physics-Based Proxy for Vapex Process Modeling in Heterogeneous Reservoirs
Authors: Shi Jindong , Leung Juliana Y. 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Vapex (vapor extraction) is a non-thermal process that has significant potential in providing a more environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient alternative to steam injection. Vaporized solvent injected in-situ dissolves into the oil and reduces oil viscosity, allowing the oil to flow to a horizontal production well via gravitational forces. While compositional simulators are available for assessing the Vapex performance, the simulation process may become difficult when taking into account the uncertainty due to reservoir heterogeneity.
A physics-based proxy is proposed to model the process, in a way analogous to the SAGD model described by Butler, who demonstrated the similarity between two processes with a series of Hele-Shaw experiments and derived an analytical steady-state flow rate relationship that is comparable to the SAGD case. Solvent concentration and intrinsic diffusivity are introduced in this model instead of temperature and thermal diffusivity in SAGD. In this paper, analytical solutions and implementation details for the Vapex proxy is presented. The proposed approach is then applied to various reservoirs discretized with spatially varying rock porosity and permeability values; bitumen drainage rate and solvent penetration are calculated sequentially at grid blocks along the solvent-bitumen interface over incremental time steps. Results from this model are compared against experimental data available in the literature as well as detailed compositional simulation studies. Computational requirement of the proxy in comparison to numerical simulations is also emphasized.
An important contribution from this work is that process physics are built directly into this proxy, giving it an advantage over other data-driven modeling approaches (e.g. regression). It can be used as an efficient alternative to expensive detailed flow simulations. It presents an important potential for assessing the uncertainty due to multi-scale heterogeneity on effective mass transfer and the resulting recovery performance, as well as assisting decisions-making for future pilot and field development.
Analysis of Impact of Thermal and Permeability Heterogeneity on SAGD Performance Using a Semi-Analytical Approach
Authors: Hampton Travis , Kumar Dhananjay , Azom Prince , Srinivasan Sanjay 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Due to the presence of heterogenic shale lenses within oil sands, engineers implementing the SAGD process are often forced to run time-consuming computer simulations before developing even a basic idea of reservoir feasibility. Therefore, there is a need for a robust analytical expression for the oil rate that can be quickly used to assess the sensitivity of the performance of a SAGD well pair to various combinations of reservoir and fluid parameters. This paper will shed some additional insights into the effect of both thermal conductivity and permeability heterogeneity on SAGD performance. Numerical simulation results for several cases of reservoir heterogeneity will be analyzed using a semi-analytical equation developed by Azom et al. that modifies the fundamental equation for SAGD performance by Butler.
Using SISIM, a geostatiscal reservoir building software, several base correlations were modeled, each correlation representing a given set of lens parameters and dimensions. The numerous realizations produced from each correlation were simulated using CMG STARS and a relationship between the heterogenic properties and adherence to Azom's model has been developed.
Our results show that naturally occurring low permeability barriers caused the steam chamber to have a shape quite different from that assumed in the literature for proxy model development and severally limited the growth of the steam chamber. As expected, variations in permeability more significantly impacted the steam chamber than corresponding thermal conductivity variations. Modifications to the semi-analytical model are required to make it a viable proxy model for fast SAGD simulations/history matching.
Interwell Connectivity Evaluation in Cases of Frequent Production Interruptions
Authors: Soroush M. , Kaviani D. , Jensen J. L. 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Evaluating interwell connectivities can provide important information for reservoir management by identifying flow conduits, barriers, and injection imbalances. Injection and production rates, in ideal conditions, contain connectivity information. A number of methods have been proposed to predict connectivity based on these data. Unfortunately, many of these rate based methods have not proven to be as successful as intended because of factors external to the reservoir. Field maintenance procedures, such as shut-ins and work-overs, cause production rate changes which are not caused by injection rate fluctuations but which mislead connectivity estimators. We have developed a method which is tolerant to changes caused by external factors.
This method, called the Multiwell Compensated Capacitance Model (MCCM), is based on the superposition principle. It can analyze injection and production data when producers' skin factors change, new producers are added, or active producers are shut-in. The MCCM also deals with another common problem in field data, which is when there are frequent producer shut-ins within sampling intervals (mini-shut-ins). For example, a producer is shut-in for a few days when flow rates are measured every month. By deriving the MCCM equations using average rates, we have developed an efficient approach to overcome this problem.
In several synthetic cases with varying skin, long term shut-in, and frequent mini-shut-ins, the MCCM successfully determined the true connectivity parameters and predicted the production rates accurately. For a set of field data from a heavy oil waterflood in Saskatchewan, we could improve the R2 of the predicted rates by 20 to 35% compared to another method and observed good agreement with geological information.
In general, we may not find a long enough time interval of injection and production data where the producers' conditions stay constant. Applying earlier methods in such cases may give misleading connectivity results and inaccurate rate predictions. Adopting the approaches described in this paper helps geoscientists and engineers to have a better understanding of reservoir heterogeneity and its effects on fluid flow in the reservoir.
Three-dimensional cone beam computed tomographic image reorientation using soft tissues as reference for facial asymmetry diagnosis
Authors: Lee Jae-Kyu , Jung Pil-Kyo , Moon Cheol-Hyun 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT

Objective:
To investigate discrepancies in results of facial asymmetry analysis using different cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) image reorientation methods and the effectiveness of soft tissue as a reorientation reference for analysis of facial asymmetry.

Materials and Methods:
An asymmetric group of 30 patients with 4 mm or more of chin point (menton [Me]) deviation and a symmetric group of 30 patients with less than 4 mm of deviation of Me were chosen as study subjects. Three orientation methods were used to calculate and compare Me deviation values of the 60 subjects. Two methods used only skeletal landmarks for reference, and one method included the soft tissue landmarks around the eye. Preferences of an expert group for the facial midline as determined by each reorientation method were also examined.

Results:
The examinations showed significant discrepancies in Me deviation values between the three reorientation methods. The expert group showed the greatest preference for the facial midline reorientation method that incorporated soft tissue landmarks of the eye.

Conclusions:
These study findings suggest that the inclusion of soft tissue landmarks, especially those around the eyes, is effective for three-dimensional CBCT image reorientation for facial asymmetry analysis.
Activation of Selected Ankle Muscles During Exercises Performed on Rigid and Compliant Balance Platforms
Authors: Harput Gulcan , Soylu A. Ruhi , Ertan Hayri , Ergun Nevin 
Published: June 2013

Study Design Experimental laboratory study. Objective To compare how the design of 2 balance platforms affects ankle musculature activation for various weight-bearing exercises. Background Balance platforms are widely used in both training and rehabilitation, and a better understanding of how platform design and type of exercise modify the demands on the ankle musculature may be helpful in staging exercise progression. Methods Surface electromyography was used to measure the activation level of the fibularis longus, tibialis anterior, and medial gastrocnemius while performing 4 exercises on 2 different balance platforms (compliant and rigid). Twenty-four (12 females, 12 males) healthy, sedentary subjects participated in the study. Analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis. Results There was no significant interaction between balance platforms and exercises (P>.05), and the type of platform did not influence muscle activation for the 3 muscles monitored (P>.05). The highest activation level for the fibularis longus and medial gastrocnemius was obtained during single-leg stance, and for the tibialis anterior during the single-leg squat (P<.05). Conclusion In this study, although the demands on the ankle musculature were similar for selected exercises performed on a compliant versus a rigid balance platform, muscle activation level varied based on the exercise. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2013;43(8):555–559. Epub 11 June 2013. doi:10.2519/jospt.2013.4456
Cognitive Functional Therapy for the Management of Low Back Pain in an Adolescent Male Rower: A Case Report
Authors: Cañeiro J.P. , Ng Leo , Burnett Angus , Campbell Amity , O'Sullivan Peter 
Published: June 2013

Study Design Case report. Background Contemporary low back pain models propose that the experience of and responses to pain result from a complex interaction of biopsychosocial factors. This supports the need for a management approach that addresses the biological, psychological, and social components that may be related to the pain disorder. This case report demonstrates the application of, and outcomes associated with, a cognitive functional intervention that considers neurophysiological, physical, psychosocial, cognitive, and lifestyle dimensions for the management of a rower with nonspecific chronic low back pain. Case Description An adolescent male club-level rower with nonspecific chronic low back pain was classified as having a motor control impairment with a lower lumbar compressive-loading pattern in flexion. Evaluation of this patient included ergometer rowing analysis (clinical and laboratory) before and after an 8-week intervention, and outcome measures at a 12-week follow-up. The intervention consisted of a cognitive functional approach that targeted optimization of movement behavior, providing the rower with alternative movement strategies to minimize sustained flexion loading. Outcomes Reduced temporal summation of pain while ergometer rowing and reduced functional disability were observed preintervention to 12 weeks postintervention by changes in Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire score (12/24 to 1/24) and the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (4/30 to 26/30), and associated improvements in lower-limb and back muscle endurance and changes in hip and spinopelvic kinematics during ergometer rowing. In particular, there was a greater use of available range of movement in the lumbar spine postintervention. Discussion The cognitive functional intervention for this patient resulted in reduced pain and functional disability related to ergometer rowing, which was associated with a change in lumbar kinematics and improved lower-limb and back muscle endurance. The results suggest that providing the rower with greater use of his available range of movement may enhance load distribution during the drive phase of rowing. Registered at Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12609000565246). Level of Evidence Therapy, level 4. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2013;43(8):542–554. Epub 11 June 2013. doi:10.2519/jospt.2013.4699
Pourquoi et comment faire de l'humour en classe ? Les représentations sociales de la compétence humoristique dans des interactions didactiques en Suisse romande
Authors: Petitjean Cécile , Priego-Valverde Béatrice 
Published: June 2013

L’objectif de cet article est de mieux comprendre le rôle des représentations sociales (RS) dans les processus d’évaluation des différentes dimensions de la compétence d’interaction (CI) dans le contexte de la classe de français. Nous nous intéressons à l’un des aspects de la CI, à savoir la compétence humoristique. Comment les acteurs de la classe privilégient-ils, de façon située et moment par moments dans l’interaction, certaines manières de faire rire ? Nous promouvons une approche praxéologique de la compétence humoristique et des RS y relatives, qui émergent et se remodèlent dans et par les pratiques interactionnelles des acteurs de la classe. À partir d’un corpus constitué d’interactions didactiques recueillies en Suisse romande avec des élèves âgés de 13 et 14 ans (Corpus CODI), l’analyse de nos données, inspirée de l’Analyse Conversationnelle, permettra de montrer de quelles façons enseignant et élèves négocient les connaissances partagées qui leur permettent de définir une échelle de valeurs des différents aspects de la compétence humoristique, et ce au travers de la manière dont ils rendent ou non pertinents, dans leurs pratiques, certains savoir-faire en matière d’humour en interaction. Il s’agit donc d’observer, d’une part, la manière dont les acteurs implémentent on line les logiques institutionnelles amenant à la légitimation de certaines facettes de l’humour, et, d’autre part, la façon dont ils reconfigurent dans le même temps ces contraintes, au travers de l’ajustement dynamique de leurs pratiques.
L'institutionnalisation de la norme sociale entre stigmatisation et dénonciation
Authors: Brugidou Mathieu 
Published: June 2013

Cet article se propose, à partir de l’étude d’une question ouverte issue d’une enquête sur les économies d’énergie, de mettre en évidence les différences entre des énoncés de stigmatisation – qui traduisent la présence d’une norme et la justifient par la sanction d’une transgression – et des énoncés de dénonciation, critiquant notamment les dispositifs de politiques publiques mettant en œuvre cette norme. L’étude décrit d’abord une méthode d’enquête et d’analyse pour identifier des énoncés de stigmatisation à propos d’une norme en cours d’institutionnalisation. Elle propose notamment de combiner une approche grammaticale des énoncés de stigmatisation et une analyse sémantique des topoï repérés grâce au vocabulaire des émotions. À partir de la distinction proposée par L. Kaufmann entre sémantique du On et sémantique du Nous (Kaufmann, 2010), l’analyse s’attache à caractériser le type de collectif suscité par ces énoncés. Ils apparaissent, dans le cas de la stigmatisation, comme la réactualisation d’une communauté héritée – faite d’habitudes et de traditions – et dans le cas de la dénonciation comme la projection d’un collectif formé sur l’accord des volontés individuelles, constituant de ce fait une proposition politique. L’étude montre toutefois que ces deux types d’énoncés, bien distingués d’un point analytique, peuvent donner lieu à des formes hybrides ou « proto-politiques », utiles pour comprendre les mécanismes de politisation.