Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Vapor Extraction (VAPEX), a solvent analogue to the steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process, is a process by which a pure hydrocarbon vapor (e.g., propane or butane) or a mixture of a vaporized hydrocarbon solvents and a non-condensable gas is injected into the reservoir. Since CO2 storage in hydrocarbon reservoirs is a top priority in Canada, injecting CO2 as non-condensable gas instead of methane in the solvent mixture and introduce CO2-based VAPEX process can make this EOR process much more attractive when compared to the thermal processes. This process provides an opportunity to enhance oil recovery through more economically viable and environmentally friendly technique. Through this fundamental and applied research program, feasibility of the CO2-based VAPEX process will be investigated. Effects of many key parameters such as drainage height, oil viscosity, initial water saturation, well configurations, and solvent composition on potential of this EOR process will be examined. And finally, using the results obtained a new and more accurate model that predicts the rate of gravity drainage more accurately will be developed. The new model will be validated using newly performed experiments and upscaling of the model for filed application will be attempted.Results obtained through this research program provide the petroleum industry with a comprehensive analysis, precise screening criteria, and analytical and correlative models capable of predicting CO2-based VAPEX drainage rate. It is expected that this study fill the knowledge gap on the applicability of CO2-based VAPEX process and effects of key parameters on its performance while clearing up the discrepancies that currently exist.