Wormhole Structure Characterization through Modeling and Analyzing Testing Data during Solvent Injection Post CHOPS Process

High viscous oil is trapped underground and cold-heavy-oil-production-with-sand (CHOPS) is one of the acceptable methods to produce the heavy oil out by forming wormholes around the wellbore. Saskatchewan and Alberta have thousands CHOPS wells and left 90% original oil in place underground. However, the primary oil recovery is low and solvent like CO2 or propane could be injected into the CHOPS well and reduces the viscosity of the oil, which could bring economic production back. How to evaluate the performance of the solvent injection performance and the data analysis for field testing and production data becomes crucial for the success of post-CHOPS well process. This proposed project could provide theoretical and applicable model to help the industry optimize the optimize production wells for better enhance oil recovery outcomes.

Faculty Supervisor:

Gang Zhao

Student:

Partner:

Petroleum Technology Research Centre

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Mining; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Regina

Program: