Well production optimization using hyperspectral imaging
AssigneeHusky Oil Operations Limited
InventorAnthony Kay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for optimizing bitumen production from a plurality of wells employing steam-based recovery techniques such as SAGD, using hyperspectral imaging of produced emulsion samples to estimate total bitumen content at each well as a means of determining steam injection adjustment to enhance production.
Claims24
A method for optimizing production of hydrocarbon from a plurality of steam-assisted gravity drainage well-pairs, each well-pair comprising an injector well and a producer well, the method comprising:
- injecting steam into a subsurface reservoir through the respective injector wells of the plurality of well-pairs;
- allowing the injected steam to mobilize hydrocarbon in the reservoir and generate a producible emulsion;
- producing the emulsion through the respective producer wells of the plurality of well-pairs;
- obtaining a plurality of samples of the emulsions produced from the respective producer wells of the plurality of well-pairs;
- measuring reflectance spectral data for each one of the plurality of samples;
- estimating bitumen content for each one of the plurality of samples based on the reflectance spectral data;
- and
- adjusting steam injection through at least one injector well of the plurality of well-pairs based on the estimated bitumen content for each one of the plurality of samples such that well-pairs with higher estimated bitumen content receive increased steam volume in a subsequent steam injection;
- wherein a total volume of steam is made available for injection through the injector wells;
- and
- wherein the step of adjusting the steam injection comprises directing a larger percentage of the total volume of steam to the well-pairs with the higher estimated bitumen content in the subsequent steam injection.
A method for optimizing production of hydrocarbon from a plurality of steam-assisted gravity drainage well-pairs, each well-pair comprising an injector well and a producer well, the method comprising the steps of:
- injecting steam at an injection rate into a subsurface reservoir through the respective injector wells of the plurality of well-pairs;
- allowing the injected steam to mobilize hydrocarbon in the reservoir and generate a producible emulsion;
- producing the emulsion through the respective producer wells of the plurality of well-pairs;
- obtaining a plurality of samples of the emulsions produced from the respective producer wells of the plurality of well-pairs;
- measuring reflectance spectral data for each one of the plurality of samples;
- estimating bitumen content for each one of the plurality of samples based on the reflectance spectral data;
- and
- adjusting rate of steam injection through at least one injector well of the plurality of well-pairs based on the estimated bitumen content for each one of the plurality of samples such that well-pairs with higher estimated bitumen content receive steam at an increased rate in a subsequent steam injection;
- wherein the steam is constantly generated and made available for injection through the injector wells;
- and
- wherein the step of adjusting the steam injection rate comprises increasing the steam injection rate to the well-pairs with the higher estimated bitumen content in the subsequent steam injection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.