In-Situ Combustion in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Combustion tube experiments were designed to study the effects of porous medium heterogeneities on in-situ combustion performance. Sandstone cores, representing the matrix in a conceptual fractured reservoir, were packed within a mixture of unconsolidated sand to represent a strong contrast in permeabilities. Furthermore, it was determined that important timescales for combustion in fractured reservoirs include reaction speed and convective flow that helped construct a dimensionless phase diagram where the Damköhler number of the matrix and the fracture are depicted on each axis. The experimental results were plotted and showed an acceptable degree of predictability. Numerical simulation of combustion tube experiments were performed to further study the effect of fractures in ISC. A vertical combustion tube experiment on a 1.1m core with an explicit vertical fracture was modeled using the commercial simulator STARS. Sensitivities were performed on various matrix and fracture properties including matrix permeability, matrix porosity, and fracture width. Results were analyzed by plotting temperature and oil saturation profiles for each pseudo-medium at different times. In general, the presence of a fracture resulted in faster propagation of the combustion front as long as diffusion of oxygen to the matrix was sufficient to initiate and sustain combustion in such medium. Total cumulative oil recoveries were only affected when sensitivity parameters modified the total porosity of the system. Differences were noted, however, in the times required to achieve such recoveries. Faster recoveries resulted for larger matrix permeabilities. Finally, a new experimental design for a transparent combustion tube to better study the effects of heterogeneities is proposed.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Date created | June 2015 |
Creators/Contributors
| Author | Koh Yoo, Kuy Hun |
|---|---|
| Primary advisor | Kovscek, Anthony R. |
| Degree granting institution | Stanford University, Department of Energy Resources Engineering |
Subjects
| Subject | School of Earth Energy & Environmental Sciences |
|---|---|
| Genre | Thesis |
Bibliographic information
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction
- User agrees that, where applicable, content will not be used to identify or to otherwise infringe the privacy or confidentiality rights of individuals. Content distributed via the Stanford Digital Repository may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor.
Preferred citation
- Preferred Citation
- Koh Yoo, Kuy Hun. (2015). In-Situ Combustion in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs. Stanford Digital Repository. Available at: https://purl.stanford.edu/jq781pn7618
Collection
Master's Theses, Doerr School of Sustainability
View other items in this collection in SearchWorksContact information
- Contact
- brannerlibrary@stanford.edu
Also listed in
Loading usage metrics...