Heavy Oil

Once EOR methods have been deployed, planning and implementing the most efficient strategy for full field development requires good quality data, expert analysis, and regular review. Overall project economics can be significantly enhanced by accurate modeling with the industry's most diverse portfolio of software solutions.

Generally, heavy oil targets are known with depths identified and a general idea of the API gravity. So the key question is, which target within a field do you evaluate first?

The technical challenges in preliminary evaluation of heavy oil are often related to accurately understanding the reservoir geology, petrophysics, and geomechanics. This knowledge helps to evaluate, model, and simulate various EOR methods to determine which would provide the best results, with minimal environmental impact. By understanding key reservoir characteristics, you can better predict fluid flow and ultimate recovery volume. With this information, you can prioritize and further evaluate your asset using concept-to-full-field methodologies to ensure the best-possible ROI.

There are three main objectives when constructing and completing heavy oil wells: accurate well placement, wellbore stability and longevity, and production efficiency. Typical heavy oil fields will likely undergo thermal recovery, but some operators are piloting and evaluating alternative hybrid thermal-solvent recovery methods, such as gas- or solvent-assisted methods, to reduce energy demands of production. Careful consideration must be given to applying technologies that will yield the most value.

Optimizing recovery, managing cost, and meeting environmental standards in thermal projects make achieving economic success a complex challenge. Flow assurance and equipment abrasion are the two main challenges in thermal operations, and the choice of artificial lift will vary with every project. Many of the completions challenges associated with heavy oil revolve around sand management, which impacts production and long-term profitability.

Ongoing operational optimization is maximized through managed use of data, simulation, and equipment. Our systems enable you to continually update geologic and reservoir models, design and model right-sized surface facilities, and maintain planned production.

We offer Symmetry process software platform, a comprehensive simulator that captures all aspects of your models from reservoir to product distribution. The Symmetry platform is built using industry-proven simulation technologies that have been optimized to scale to your thermal operation.