7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica 2017

Sustainable Heavy Oil Exploitation, Innovation and Geomechanical Contributions

ISRM Specialized Conference, 13-16 March 2017, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Research Group in Applied Geomechanics (Eds.)
© 2017, 7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica

APPLICATION OF GEOMECHANICS IN HEAVY OIL

PRODUCTION – ADVANCED CANADIAN
EXPERIENCE.
Yanguang Yuan
BitCan Geosciences & Engineering Inc., Calgary, Canada. yuany@bitcange.com

Bin Xu
BitCan Geosciences & Engineering Inc., Calgary, Canada. binxu@bitcange.com

Baohong Yang
BitCan Geosciences & Engineering Inc., Calgary, Canada. baohongyang@bitcange.com

SUMMARY: This paper will provide an overview about the use of geomechanics in
improving heavy-oil production. If high recovery factors are sought, production of heavy-oil
reservoirs requires stimulation to reduce oil viscosity. Intelligent use of geomechanics can
create additional porosity and permeability by managing rock dilation and fracturing
behavior. As a result, new areas are created for injected stimulants to contact the heavy oil,
speeding up viscosity reduction and improving oil production. Additionally, the same
mechanism can break down the permeability barriers in the reservoir for the injected
stimulants to travel through, ultimately improving the reservoir recovery factor.

Using field examples, this paper illustrates theoretical mechanisms and field results. It will
hopefully provide a new paradigm for operators when planning their heavy-oil production,
because geomechanics is both a necessity and a means to value creation.

KEYWORDS: Geomechanics, Canadian heavy oil production, dilation, case histories.

1 INTRODUCTION has embarked on an ambitious mission to

develop its heavy-oil resources1. Therefore,
Becoming an increasingly important it is timely to have the worldwide
component of global energy supply, geomechanics community turn their
development of heavy-oil resources has attention toward heavy-oil development
attracted world attention. Heavy-oil and how geomechanics can proactively
development in Canada and Venezuela, as help improve production rates, increase
well as in other countries such as China, reservoir recovery, and minimize its
the former Soviet Union, Indonesia, Oman, environmental footprint (on air, land and
Russia, and the U.S., are some well-known water).
examples, although the list is definitely not To maximize recovery, heavy-oil
exhaustive. In the recent years, Kuwait, a reservoirs all require stimulation to reduce
traditionally conventional oil producer, the viscosity 2 . Thermal or chemical

1 Proceedings of SPE Heavy Oil Conference & Exhibition, held 2 The primary cold heavy-oil production has the benefit of low
in Kuwait City, Kuwait, December 2011; 2014 and 2016. costs, but suffers from a low recovery factor

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7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica 2017
Sustainable Heavy Oil Exploitation, Innovation and Geomechanical Contributions
ISRM Specialized Conference, 13-16 March 2017, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Research Group in Applied Geomechanics (Eds.)
© 2017, 7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica

mechanisms, such as injection of steam or balance to be sought: How to promote

solvents, have been used to reduce reservoir deformation to benefit oil
viscosity. This process is based on heat production while minimizing caprock
conduction or molecular diffusion and is deformation to protect the reservoir
slow. Moreover, the travelling steam or containment? This is both a challenge and
solvent front can be prevented by an opportunity for the geomechanics
permeability barriers in the reservoir, such community. This paper is one of three
as shale stringers. Consequently, the presented at this conference describing the
reservoir recovery factor is compromised. Canadian experience in the efforts to
All these challenges can be overcome by maintain this delicate balance.
the mechanisms of geomechanics. The heavy-oil industry in Canada is the
Thermal stimulation has the longest de facto technology centre to the world’s
history of operation and thus accumulated heavy-oil production. The provincial
the largest experience base. Cyclic steam government in Alberta, Canada, is the
stimulation (CSS) and steam-assisted centre of worldwide excellence in
gravity drainage (SAGD) are the two regulating the energy industry toward the
mainstream in-situ thermal processes. goal of maximizing economic benefits
Chemical stimulation using solvent and while protecting imperative social and
catalyst injection, among others, are being environment values. This paper will
attempted with promising results to summarize the world-leading Canadian
different degrees. In all cases, similar experience with a focus on proactively
geomechanical mechanisms are at play applying geomechanics to improve heavy-
and therefore, the following description oil production.
focuses on thermal mechanisms only. In the following, deformation and
Both CSS and SAGD processes inject failure behavior of heavy-oil reservoir
steam into the reservoir, heating the heavy sands in Canada is first described. In
oil, reducing its viscosity, and enabling it particular, its fracturing behavior is
to flow easily. The accumulative net elaborated in the context of stimulated
energy input to the reservoir is significant. reservoir volume (SRV) and by comparing
Such energy input inevitably alters the dilation with tensile fracturing. It
rock structure, causing its deformation and establishes the theoretical basis for the
failure in the reservoir. Meanwhile, the next section, which is dedicated to
reservoir deformation itself, as well as the proactively using geomechanics for
prolonged input energy, inevitably impact heavy-oil production. Finally, conclusions
the overburden rocks above the reservoir. and discussions are given.
Therefore, rock deformation and failure, Although reservoir containment is an
which is the domain of geomechanics, important subject in heavy-oil production,
must be considered. this subject is not included in the current
Rock deformation and failure in the paper due to limited space. Our other two
reservoir can be made to benefit the companion papers cover this subject in
reservoir production while large-scale great lengths (Xu et al., 2017; Yang et al.
deformation and failure in the caprock 2017). There are several other references
must be prevented. The close proximity of also dealing with the subject (Yuan et al.
the reservoir and caprock, as well as the 2011b; Yang et al. 2013; Yang et al. 2016).
opposing role of rock deformation and For decades, geomechanics has been
failure in both domains, calls for a delicate promoted for heavy-oil development in

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7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica 2017
Sustainable Heavy Oil Exploitation, Innovation and Geomechanical Contributions
ISRM Specialized Conference, 13-16 March 2017, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Research Group in Applied Geomechanics (Eds.)
© 2017, 7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica

Alberta. In 2011, the authors of this paper

gave an overview about the Canadian 3 HYDRAULIC STIMULATION OF
experience in geomechanics for thermal HEAVY OIL RESERVOIRS FOR
stimulation of heavy-oil reservoirs (Yuan MAXIMIZED STIMULATED
et al. 2011c). The present paper RESERVOIR VOLUME (SRV)
summarizes the advances made since 2011
(i.e., advanced Canadian experience). Hydraulic stimulation of heavy-oil
reservoirs is initially intended to increase a
2 A BRIEF REVIEW ON well’s injectivity. Although heavy-oil
HISTORICAL GEOMECHANICAL reservoirs have a large permeability, only
WORKS a limited injectivity commonly exists
because of its small initial mobile water
Current advances in utilizing saturations and high oil viscosity.
geomechanics for Canadian heavy-oil Historically, simulation studies are carried
development have tremendously benefited out on the basis of laboratory findings
from the historical geomechanical work, described previously. Many field tests are
dating back as far as to the 1970s or even undertaken with detailed monitoring
earlier. Repeatedly, laboratory tests efforts (Kry et al. 1992; Yuan et al. 2011a).
(Dusseault and Morgenstern 1977; Samieh The CSS process begins with high-
1995; Yuan et al. 2011a) revealed that the pressure injection to create fractures in the
heavy oil/oilsands reservoir sands in reservoir. In recent years, the hydraulic
Alberta, Canada, exhibited a tendency of stimulation also aims to create a maximum
high dilation with angles of dilation SRV, which represents the advanced
reaching 50º when measured at low Canadian experience and will be described
confining pressures (Samieh 1995). in detail.
Microscopic observations discovered an Yuan et al. (2011a) elaborates on the
interlocked or longitudinal grain/grain fracturing behavior in unconsolidated
contact structure, as opposed to the normal heavy-oil reservoirs. One of its key
point-wise contact, which was responsible observations is that the hydraulically
for the high angles of dilation. Historical induced fracturing behavior during high-
glaciation is mostly responsible for the pressure injection of heavy-oil reservoirs
inter-penetrative grain/grain contact can combine shear-induced dilation and
structure. During the Quaternary period, a micro tensile cracking. The hydraulic
continental glacial ice sheet as thick as 2 to fracture in unconsolidated heavy-oil
3 km covered North America (Clark 1980). reservoir is not a tensile fracture that is
It exerted vertical loading equivalent to 20 split open with a small aperture separated
to 30 MPa on the earlier geological by two opposing continuous planes, which
deposits, making them over-consolidated. is the tensile fracturing geometry typically
An over-consolidated rock formation envisioned for the hydraulic fracturing of
tends to display strain-weakening and hard rocks. Dilation refers to a
significant post-peak dilation behavior phenomenon of volumetric increase under
under low confining pressures. The the overall compressive state of stresses. In
glaciation also caused the diagenetic heavy-oil reservoirs, the hydraulic fracture
process to alter grain/grain contacts from is a zone of micro tensile cracks, but these
the normally tangential to inter-penetrative cracks are not connected with each other to
types. form a continuous trace of fracture planes.

3
7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica 2017
Sustainable Heavy Oil Exploitation, Innovation and Geomechanical Contributions
ISRM Specialized Conference, 13-16 March 2017, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Research Group in Applied Geomechanics (Eds.)
© 2017, 7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica

Instead, these micro-cracks are dispersed start-up process. A more detailed

in the otherwise continuous rock media. description about the dilation start-up is
Between the micro-cracks and also outside given in the next section. At the time when
the fracture zone, shear-induced dilation is the pressure history shown in Figure 2 is
present. The gross volume comprising the recorded, a dilation zone was already
dilated area and fracture zone represents formed between the upper injector and
the SRV. Figure 1 illustrates the SRV lower producer. This is evident because
model described above. the pressure behavior at the well pair is
synchronized. When the pressure at the
injector rose while it accepted the injection,
so does the producer pressure. Where the
injector is shut-in and therefore, has a
pressure drop, so does pressure at the
producer.
1.8 300
Reverse communication
Pressure@302P Pressure@302I Net inj@302I from 302P to 302I.
1.6 250

1.4 200

1.2 150
Pressure (MPa)

Rate (L/min)
1 100

Figure 1. A schematic showing SRV formed during 0.8 50

hydraulic stimulation of heavy-oil reservoirs. The 0.6 0

SRV consists of fracture zones and the surrounding 0.4 -50
dilated area. 0.2 -100
p communication from 302I to 302P Dec 23, 2012
0 -150

The following description compares 04:48:00 09:36:00 14:24:00 19:12:00 00:00:00 04:48:00 09:36:00 14:24:00 19:12:00

dilation with a tensile fracture in terms of Figure 2. An example pressure/injection rate

history during a SAGD dilation start-up operation.
size of the storage volume or SRV and the The pressure refers to the surface-recorded
permeability value. In the dilation zone, pressures. “302I” refers to the injector for a SAGD
the effective permeability is increased well pair. “302P” is its producer.
significantly compared with the original
value, but its increase is far less than that Take the time period between the
associated with a tensile fracture. For midnight and 5:00 a.m. on Dec. 23, for
example, as to be detailed next, one set of example. The injector and producer have a
field data suggests that a dilation zone has relatively constant pressure difference of
a permeability in the order of tens of approximately 600 kPa. During this period,
Darcies only. But for a tensile fracture the injector is accepting an injection rate at
with an aperture of 0.1 in., its equivalent roughly 120 L/min, while the producer is
permeability is 537,763 Darcies (i.e., in being shut-in. Assuming a steady-state
the order of hundreds of thousands of pressure diffusion between the well pair,
Darcies), on the basis of the parallel plate an injection rate of 120 L/min over a 400-
theory (i.e., b^2/12 with b being the m long horizontal well (the SAGD well
aperture at 0.1 in. in the current example). length) with a radius of 0.1 m yielding a
The permeability of a dilation zone can ∆p=600 kPa over an inter-well distance of
be estimated from a field example. Figure 5 m (the SAGD well pair distance)
2 shows a pressure history between a corresponds to a permeability of 72 Darcy.
SAGD well pair recorded during a dilation In the other time periods, similarly

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7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica 2017
Sustainable Heavy Oil Exploitation, Innovation and Geomechanical Contributions
ISRM Specialized Conference, 13-16 March 2017, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Research Group in Applied Geomechanics (Eds.)
© 2017, 7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica

estimated permeability can be 25 to 40 storage volume as manifested by the newly

Darcies. Therefore, the dilation zone created pore space caused by shear-
between the SAGD well pair has a induced dilation and micro tensile cracks.
permeability on the order of tens of These cracks are not connected with each
Darcies only. other to form a tensile fracture, but they are
It should be noted that the permeability dispersed relatively widely in the reservoir.
derived previously refers to the effective The dilated zone has a moderately
water mobility. It has the contribution of increased permeability on the order of tens
both an absolute permeability increase of Darcies from the original sub-mD
plus a relative water permeability increase values (effective permeability). This
caused by increased water saturations. The moderate permeability value is
latter can be more dominant incrementally significantly smaller than the permeability
(Xu et al. 2010). As a comparison, the increase associated with a tensile fracture.
original reservoir permeability in this The latter is equivalent to hundreds of
particular well case is less than 1 Darcy thousands of Darcies according to the
and initial effective water permeability is parallel plate theory for a 0.1-inch aperture.
much less at approximately 0.1 mD The previously described unique
because of the low initial water saturation. dilation-based stimulation model is
The moderate permeability increase in verified by using the model to history-
a dilation zone (as compared with the match field data. For example, Figure 4
tensile fracture) is associated with its large shows a history-matching result on a mini-
storage volume or SRV. Figure 3 shows a frac test in a shaly heavy-oil reservoir
simulated dilation zone for a SAGD well. interval. The numerical prediction is based
On average, it has a width of on the dilation model described previously.
approximately 2 m and height of 10 m, The good match between the simulation
which is equal to 20 m3/per 1-m long well and field-recorded pressure data lends the
length. Assuming that an average porosity confidence to the dilation model. More
increase within the dilation zone is 6%, it details about history-matching can be
translates to 1.2 m3 per 1-m for the newly found in Xu et al. (2010).
created storage volume because of the In hydraulic fracturing stimulation,
dilation. The storage volume for a tensile proppants are normally injected to prop
fracture can be estimated to be 0.1 in. open the tensile fracture after the wells are
aperture multiplied by the fracture height put into production causing the pressure
of 10 m (i.e., 0.025 m3 for the storage drop. The large permeability increase
volume). Multiplied by 10 to reflect the associated with the tensile fracture helps
influence domain of the fracture in the the proppant transport along the fracture
direction of fracture aperture, the 0.1-inch into the reservoir. A dilated area has only
fracture aperture yields 0.25 m3 for the a moderate permeability increase. This
SRV. makes it difficult for the proppants to
The previously described analysis can move into the pore space and micro tensile
yield the following observations. Different cracks. Will the stimulated effect, in terms
from the conventional tensile fracture of the large SRV, increased storage
model, the fracturing behavior in heavy-oil volume, and moderately increased
reservoirs can be dominated by dilation, permeability, remain after the pressure
forming a large dilated area that represents drops? The field data suggest an
a large SRV. Within this SRV is a large affirmative “yes” answer to this

5
7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica 2017
Sustainable Heavy Oil Exploitation, Innovation and Geomechanical Contributions
ISRM Specialized Conference, 13-16 March 2017, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Research Group in Applied Geomechanics (Eds.)
© 2017, 7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica

question—the stimulated effect indeed void space created during the dilation
remains. It has the theoretical support process. This net volume derived from the
owing on the basis of the arching effect field data is approximately 2 times the
(Bratli and Risnes 1981; Michalowski and theoretical calculated storage volume
Park 2005). It is also supported by the field described earlier (1.2 m3/1-m), meaning
data. For example, in the SAGD dilation that the SRV and storage volume created
start-up, a relatively large cumulative in the field can be large.
volume has been injected, but a much
smaller volume is returned when the wells 20 Field BHP 50
Computed BHP
are opened to flow to the surface. 18
Rate
45

16 40
14 35

Inj. rate, L/min

BHP, MPa
12 30

10 25
8 20
6 15

4 10
2 5
0 0
4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000
Time since injection, s

Figure 4. A history-matching example on a mini-

frac test completed in a heavy-oil reservoir in
Alberta, Canada. The simulation is based on the
dilation model described in the text.

Table 1. A Summary of Net Injection Volume

Compiled from a Dilation Start-up Job
Well Net Injection Storage Volume
Number Volume (m3) (m3/1-m well
Figure 3. A simulation example for the SAGD length)
dilation start-up process. Top: a contour plot of the 1 1,400 3.50
vertical permeability (Kv) in the unit of mD in a 2 1,100 2.75
vertical cross-section cut along the SAGD well 3 1,200 3.00
length. Bottom: a contour plot of pore pressure 4 1,000 2.50
(“POR” in the unit of kPa) after the dilation start- 5 1,100 2.75
up process is completed. Despite the non-uniform Average 1,160 2.90
permeability near the SAGD wells (top), a uniform
dilation zone manifested by the high pore pressure
(red-colour) is still formed along the well length. 4 FIELD APPLICATIONS OF
The bottom-right insert shows the approximate DILATION FOR HEAVY OIL
dimension of the dilation zone created: 10 m in PRODUCTION
height and 2 m in width (consider the symmetric
boundary condition).
The previously described analysis points
out that hydraulic stimulation of heavy-oil
Table 1 gives a summary on the net
reservoirs can be made to be dominated by
injection volume after the dilation start-up
dilation. It is a volumetric feature that
operation. Thus, on the average, there is
creates a large SRV in the reservoir.
2.9 m3 per 1-m well length of the injected
Within it, a large storage space exists,
water remaining trapped in the reservoir.
which can be made available to accept the
This remaining volume is stored in the

6
7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica 2017
Sustainable Heavy Oil Exploitation, Innovation and Geomechanical Contributions
ISRM Specialized Conference, 13-16 March 2017, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Research Group in Applied Geomechanics (Eds.)
© 2017, 7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica

stimulating materials that are injected to It normally takes 3 to 6 months in Canada

reduce the heavy-oil viscosity. The dilated and can reach up to 10 to 12 months in the
area has moderate permeability increase, other parts of the world because of the
but is far less significant than the extremely high oil viscosity (Yuan et al.
permeability induced by a tensile fracture. 2013; Zhang et al. 2016; Fan et al. 2017).
The arching effect associated with the During this long circulation start-up phase,
dilation behavior allows the newly created steam is injected and a mixture of hot
void space to remain open after the water, oil, and sands is returned to the
hydraulic pressure drops, which is high surface, producing no steady “pure” oil.
during the injection for the stimulation. Therefore, during the circulation start-up,
These characteristics of the dilation steam is wasted and the return fluid is very
behavior can benefit the heavy-oil dirty, stressing the treatment plants. It is
production. Using field examples, this desirable to shorten the SAGD start-up
section will describe an example phase as much as possible.
application of the dilation to accelerate the A geomechanical dilation mechanism is
SAGD production. used to accelerate SAGD start-up. After
SAGD is becoming a routine the SAGD well is drilled and before the
commercial production process for heavy steam is injected, hydraulic stimulation is
oil. It drills two vertically stacked carried out to create a targeted dilation
horizontal wells near the base of a heavy- zone that connects the SAGD well pair
oil reservoir. The well pair is vertically vertically. Then, the steam is injected to
separated normally by 5 m. Steam enter into the reservoir preferentially along
continues to be injected into the upper the vertical dilation zone formed a priori.
injector. The steam rises, imparting its heat As a result, the steam is focused to heat the
to the surrounding cold heavy-oil phase to heavy oil between the SAGD wells, which
reduce its viscosity. The viscosity-reduced is eventually mobilized to be produced.
oil drains downward due to gravity and Communication between the SAGD well
collects and produces via the lower pair is achieved much earlier. This
producer. Figure 5 depicts a simple technology is called dilation start-up or
schematic for the SAGD process. fast and uniform SAGD start-up
In order to have the viscosity-reduced enhancement (FUSE). Figure 5 compares
oil drain easily down to the producer, a the conventional circulation start-up with
good communication between the injector FUSE.
and producer must be achieved before oil The initial production performance of
production starts. This step is called the the dilation start-up is significant. Figure 6
SAGD start-up phase. Conventionally, compiles the cumulative production
steam is circulated through both injector history from 18 wells. One of them is the
and producer in the start-up phase. Heat is conventional circulation started-up well
conducted away from the wells into the while the majority of the rest of the 17
reservoir, heating the heavy oil. Eventually, wells had undergone the dilation
the oil between the well pair is heated stimulation. Therefore, the dilation start-
sufficiently to be produced via the up has significantly accelerated the SAGD
producer. Only at this time is the SAGD production—it started earlier and with
well pair fully connected and continuous much stronger production rates as
SAGD production can begin. This SAGD compared with the circulation start-up well.
start-up method is called steam circulation. Correspondingly, the cumulative steam/oil

7
7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica 2017
Sustainable Heavy Oil Exploitation, Innovation and Geomechanical Contributions
ISRM Specialized Conference, 13-16 March 2017, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Research Group in Applied Geomechanics (Eds.)
© 2017, 7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica

ratio (CSOR) dropped rapidly to the long- 10

CSOR (Cumulative Steam Oil Ratio)

term performance ratio (Figure 6), 9

CSOR (Cumulative Steam Oil Ratio)

meaning that significant steam is saved to 7

produce an equal amount of oil or the same 5

steam volume injected to produce more oil. 3

The first FUSE test well (denoted by 1

“B01P06 1st FUSE Test” in Figure 6) is

0 182 366 547 731 912 1096 1277 1461 1643 1827 2008 2192 2373 2557
Days Since Start Of Steaming
B01P04 Normal Start Up B01P06 1st FUSE Test B01P05 2nd FUSE Test B04 Pad 8 Well Average B03 Pad 8 Well Average

the first pilot test well completed in 2010.

The dilation zone created during the test Figure 6. Cumulative production history and
steam/oil ratio (CSOR) of a conventional
extended too downwardly, communicating
circulation start-up SAGD well (“B01P04 Normal
with the bottom water zone. Therefore, the Start-up”) compared with dilation-started wells (all
steam injection has to be limited in order the other curves). Data from AER (Alberta Energy
to prevent steam leaking into the water Regulator) public database for a SAGD project in
zone. This caused the lower crude volume Alberta, Canada.
being produced, but its CSOR is still lower
than or close to the conventional The success that dilation start-up
circulation start-up well (Figure 6). technology has achieved is one outcome of
the unique dilation behavior described
previously. For example, the large storage
volume within the dilation zone has a
ready place for the injected steam to travel
preferentially to the area between the
injector and producer. That means that the
dilation can help place the stimulating
materials in the target area (i.e., between
the SAGD wells in the current case), along
the targeted direction (vertical), at targeted
Figure 5. A schematic showing the conventional times (when the steam injection starts).
circulation start-up on the left and dilation start-up This greatly enhances the stimulation
on the right. In the circulation start-up, the efficiency (reduced steam use for
temperature front is typically co-circular with their increased crude production).
respective injection well because of the heat
conduction mechanism. In the dilation start-up, a Besides the large SRV or storage
vertical dilation zone is formed between the SAGD volume, another important advantage of
wells. the dilation (i.e., moderate permeability
increase), also helps the success of the
500,000
Cumulative Crude Production
dilation start-up technology. It enables the
450,000 dilation zone to be placed uniformly along
400,000
Cumulative Crude Produced, m^3

350,000 the SAGD well length regardless of the

300,000

250,000
inherent geological or reservoir
200,000 engineering heterogeneities. Figure 3
150,000

100,000 already presented one example simulation

50,000

0
of the dilation start-up process. The top
0 182 366 547 731 912 1096 1277 1461 1643 1827 2008 2192 2373 2557

B01P04 Normal Start Up B01P06 1st FUSE Test

Days Since Start Of Steaming
B01P05 2nd FUSE Test B04 Pad 8 Well Average B03 Pad 8 Well Average
contoured plot in Figure 3 shows that low-
permeability mud/shale stringers are
present near the SAGD well pair, which
are heterogeneously distributed along the

8
7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica 2017
Sustainable Heavy Oil Exploitation, Innovation and Geomechanical Contributions
ISRM Specialized Conference, 13-16 March 2017, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Research Group in Applied Geomechanics (Eds.)
© 2017, 7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica

well length. Despite these significant reach deep into the reservoir. The transport
heterogeneities, a uniform dilation is still mechanism for the steam is more
formed along the SAGD well length convection-typical, which is more
(bottom left plot in Figure 3). efficient in terms of spatial extent and
temporal speed. The final outcomes are
5 CONCLUSIONS earlier and stronger production rates. It
also promotes more efficient use of steam,
Canadian experience has demonstrated yielding a smaller steam/oil ratio. Because
that geomechanics can and should be the dilation can break through mud/shale
proactively utilized to aid in heavy-oil stringers, it helps uniform steam
production. This paper first summarizes conformance along the horizontal wells
the historical geomechanical works that are completed with open annulus. This
completed in Canadian heavy-oil can eventually increase the reservoir
production. It then describes the dilation- recovery factor.
dominated fracturing behavior during (4) The previously described benefits
hydraulic stimulation of heavy-oil on the crude production on the basis of
reservoirs. Using relevant field examples, dilation are proven in the field.
the final part of this paper illustrates that (5) In order to promote the dilation for
this dilation behavior can be used to help the heavy-oil recovery, the reservoir sands
heavy-oil production. Some observations should be investigated for its
can be summarized as follows: geomechanical properties and dilation
(1) Hydraulic stimulation at high behavior as well as in-situ stress condition.
pressures in heavy-oil reservoirs can be
manipulated to promote dilation behavior ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
where a large SRV is created. Within the
stimulated volume is a combination of Thanks are due to a wide spectrum of
micro tensile cracks embedded on the heavy oil operators around the world
background of shear-induced dilation. whose trust in our experience and whose
(2) The dilation-dominated fracturing progressive attitude towards
behavior is a continuum phenomenon in geomechanics have inspired BitCan to
that the failure is dispersed in a large pursue excellence in our deliveries.
volume. This is in contrast to the tensile Thanks are also due to the management of
fracturing behavior, which is a BitCan G&E Inc. for allowing the
discontinum phenomenon in that the publication of this paper and to Wenli
failure is manifested by the formation of Huang for formatting the paper.
two discrete planes separated by a narrow REFERENCES
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in contrast to the tensile fracturing where Clark, J.A. (1980). The reconstruction of the
the permeability increase is huge, although Laurentide ice sheet of North America from sea
its stimulated volume is small. level data: methods and preliminary results, J.
(3) The dilation can be used to Geophys. Res., 85, 4307-4323.
Dusseault, M.B. and Morgenstern, N.R. (1979).
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predefined conduits for steam or other 12, 117-131.
stimulating materials to travel through to

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7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica 2017
Sustainable Heavy Oil Exploitation, Innovation and Geomechanical Contributions
ISRM Specialized Conference, 13-16 March 2017, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Research Group in Applied Geomechanics (Eds.)
© 2017, 7° Simposio Internacional de Geomecánica

Fan, Y.X., Sun, X.G., Mai, X. et al. (2017). In-Situ Canada, 11–13 June 2013.
catalytic aquathermolysis combined with
geomechanical dilation to enhance thermal Yang B.H., Xu B. and Yuan Y.G. (2016).
heavy-oil production, SPE 184981-MS to be Probabilistic analysis on the caprock integrity
presented at the SPE Canada Heavy Oil during SAGD operations, SPE 180704-MS
Technical Conference held in Calgary, Alberta, presented at the SPE Canada Heavy Oil
Canada, 15—16 February 2017. Technical Conference held in Calgary, Alberta,
Canada, 7–9 June 2016.
Kry, P.R., Boone, T.J., Gronseth, J.M., et al.
(1992). Fracture orientation observations from Yuan, Y.G., Yang, B. H. and Xu, B. (2011a).
an Athabasca oil sands cyclic steam stimulation Fracturing in the oil-sands reservoirs.
project. CIM paper no. 92-37, presented at CIL CSUG/SPE 149308 presented at 2011
1992 Annual Technical Conference in Calgary, CSUG/SPE Canadian Unconventional
June 7-10, 1992. Resources Conference held in Calgary, Canada,
15-17 November 2011.
Michalowski, R.L. and Park, N. (2005). Arching in
granular soils, Proceedings of the 1st Japan-US Yuan, Y.G., Xu, B. and Pamlgren C. (2011b).
Workshop on Testing, Modeling and Simulation Design of caprock integrity in thermal
held in Boston, MA on June 27-29, 2003. 255- stimulation of shallow oil-sands reservoirs,
268. CSUG/SPE 149371 presented at 2011
CSUG/SPE Canadian Unconventional
Samieh, A.M. (1995). Modeling of Athabasca Oil Resources Conference held in Calgary, Canada,
Sand. Ph.D. Dissertation, Dept. of Civil Eng., 15-17 November 2011.
Univ. of Calgary, Canada.
Yuan Y.G., Xu, B. and Yang, B.H. (2011c).
Xu, B., Yuan, Y. and Wong, R.C.K. (2010). Geomechanics for the thermal stimulation of
Modeling of the hydraulic fractures in heavy oil reservoirs --- Canadian experience
unconsolidated oilsands reservoirs. Presented at SPE 150293-MS presented at the SPE Heavy
the 44th US Rock Mechanics Symposium and Oil Conference and Exhibition held in Kuwait
5th U.S.-Canada Rock Mechanics Symposium City, Kuwait, 12–14 December 2011.
held in Salt Lake City, UT, June 27–30, 2010.
Yuan, X.S., Dou, S.J., Zhang, J. et al. (2013).
Xu, B., Yuan, Y.G. and Yang, B.H. (2017). Quality Consideration of geomechanics for in-situ
control (QC)/quality assurance (QA) in bitumen recovery in Xinjiang, China. SPE
geomechanical works for heavy oil production. 165414-MS presented at the SPE Canada
To be presented at 7° Simposio Internacional de Heavy Oil Conference held in Calgary, Alberta,
Geomecanica 2017: “Sustainable Heavy Oil Canada, 11–13 June 2013.
Exploitation, Innovation and Geomechanical
Contributions”, 13-16 March 2017, Medellin, Zhang, J., Fan, Y.X., Xu, B. et al. (2016). Steam
Antioquia, Colombia. circulation strategies for SAGD wells after
geomechanical dilation start-up, SPE 180705-
Yang, B.H., Xu, B. and Yuan, Y.G. (2017). MS presented at the SPE Canada Heavy Oil
Overcome challenges to resolve uncertainties in Technical Conference held in Calgary, Alberta,
modeling for caprock integrity assessment. To Canada, 7–9 June 2016.
be presented at 7° Simposio Internacional de
Geomecanica 2017: “Sustainable Heavy Oil
Exploitation, Innovation and Geomechanical
Contributions”, 13-16 March 2017, Medellin,
Antioquia, Colombia.

Yang B.H., Xu B. and Yuan Y.G. (2013). Impact

of thermal pore pressure on the caprock
integrity during the SAGD operation. SPE
165448-MS presented at the SPE Heavy Oil
Conference Canada held in Calgary, Alberta,

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