Multiphase Flow Simulation for In Situ Combustion to Investigate Field-scale Hydraulic Heterogeneity and Air Injection Rate Affecting Oil Production

Abstract

The article presents numerical analyses on the effects of field-scale hydraulic heterogeneity and air injection rate for production behavior of in situ combustion. Hydraulic heterogeneity is an essential reservoir property on determining the movement of a combustion front while the air injection rate is a key operational factor on maintaining the combustion front. Hydraulic heterogeneity affects significantly occurring viscous fingerings but may not be critical at the averaged cumulative production. The lower air injection rate results in the extensive combustion front and the large amount of ultimate recovery if the front is maintained before it reaches a production well.