Data-driven Adaptive Model Predictive Control of Heat produced by Resistive Heating Elements in Enhanced Oil Recovery

NEXEN has proposed a novel and advanced thermal EOR technique for oil sands recovery, which is both economically efficient and environmentally sustainable as compared to current thermal oil recovery method (SAGD). The focus of this research project is to investigate, analyze, improve, and design heat transfer modeling and control strategies for proposed enhanced oil sands recovery so that it could be commercialized in future. Rate of heat transfer in proposed technique is low as compared to SAGD, which is directly proportional to rate of oil recovery. Therefore, various ways will be investigated to improve heat transfer rate to improve oil recovery. Moreover, adaptive control system will be developed to regulate the temperature of resistive heating elements and medium.

Faculty Supervisor:

Mehran Mehrandezh

Student:

Umair Aslam

Partner:

Saskatchewan Research Council

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Oil and gas

University:

Program: