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ISSN Druckformat: 1091-028X
ISSN Online: 1934-0508
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A NEW MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR THE SOLVENT CHAMBER EVOLUTION IN THE VAPOR EXTRACTION PROCESS
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ABSTRAKT
Extensive physical modeling of vapor extraction (VAPEX) has been studied in the past two decades, yet the theoretical modeling of VAPEX has not gained much progress. The major VAPEX mechanisms, i.e., oil viscosity reduction through solvent dissolution and gravity drainage, occur mainly in a thin solvent − heavy oil transition zone. Therefore, modeling ofthe transition zone is the key to model the VAPEX process. Current analytical models are based on some potentially unreliable assumptions for the transition zone, such as steady-state mass transfer and constant boundary moving velocity. Numerical models cannot fully capture the physical features because the gridblock is usually much larger than the transition-zone thickness. This paper develops a new mathematical model for the VAPEX transition zone that is simplified as a piecewise linear profile and updated step by step. In each step, first, a solvent concentration distribution is calculated by using Fick's second law. Then the oil drainage velocity is computed by using Darcy's law. Finally, the momentary boundary moving velocity is estimated by using a mass balance equation. The VAPEX model is not only able to describe the evolution ofthe solvent chamber, but also characterize the dynamic oil properties across the transition zone. Compared with numerical simulation, this new model shows more sensitivity to the diffusion coefficient.
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Lu Xinqian, Zhou Xiang, Luo Jianxin, Zeng Fanhua, Peng Xiaolong, Characterization of Foamy Oil and Gas/Oil Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media for a Heavy Oil/Methane System, Journal of Energy Resources Technology, 141, 3, 2019. Crossref