Modeling thermal production of heavy oil considering temperature dependency of phase permeability

Authors: K.M. Musin, O.S. Sotnikov (TatNIPIneft)

Method for laboratory determination of the relative permeabilities for different temperatures using unsteady-state displacement experiments was developed. Method was used in experiments with compressed model made from highviscous oil saturated sands of Ashalchi oilfield. Simple formulas to access optimal reservoir heat temperature using rela - tive permeabilities for different temperatures were suggested. Correlation of optimal reservoir heat temperature vs. oil and gas prices ratio was determined using experimental data. It was determined that dependence of the relative permeability from temperature strongly affected on results of thermal recovery simulation. This suggests that application of same relative permeability functions for all temperatures in thermal recovery simulation models is incorrect.