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Fracture Mechanics Analysis in In-Situ Oil Sands Recovery
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1979
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Oil MobilityEngineeringMechanical EngineeringReservoir EngineeringGeotechnical EngineeringPetroleum ReservoirHeavy Oil RecoveryBp CanadaEnhanced Oil RecoveryFormation DamageTight OilViscous Oil RecoveryFracture Mechanics AnalysisCivil EngineeringGeomechanicsFormation EvaluationAlberta Oil SandsPetroleum EngineeringMechanics Of MaterialsFracture Mechanics
ABSTRACT The success of in-situ recovery of oil from the Alberta Oil Sands depends inlarge measure on the success of formation fracturing to create the initial flowpaths. This paper reviews some of the factors which possibly contribute to theinitiation, development and orientation of fractures and pursues the idea ofapplying the theory of fracturing in elastic materials to un- consolidatedsands. Experimental data are compared with results from a numerical model whichemploys a nonisothermal, single-phase fluid. Background Any in-situ recovery process designed to recover oil from the Alberta Oil Sands must overcome the following major inherent constraints: low or nopermeability in oil-saturated sands; low or no oil mobility; and low reservoirtemperatures and pressures. Accordingly, there are several basic steps to mosttypes of heavy oil in-situ recovery methods(l), but for the purpose of thisdiscussion we need only consider the following:communication;mobilization; anddisplacement. Figure 1 summarizes some of the methods available to accomplish these steps.The selection of one or more categories under each step (and consequently therecovery method) depends largely on the reservoir characteristics. For example, at Cold Lake, Esso Resources, Norcen and Gulf Canada have used steam to part orfracture the formation and thereby improve reservoir injectivity. On the otherhand, because the reservoir has reasonable injectivity, BP Canada (also at Cold Lake) have used the connate water as the transport medium in one of their steampilots. Alternatively, one could use a permeable bottom water sand as thechannel of communication (e.g., Shell Canada at Peace River). Figure 2 shows that certain companies (e.g., Texaco and Amoco) have usedsteam or air (combustion) in dual capacity to:preheat and mobilize the oilin the reservoir; anddisplace oil to production wells. Other companiessuch as BP Canada, plan to use a combination of steam and air in theirviscosity reduction/fluid displacement process.