In-Situ Combustion Model

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Abstract
This paper describes a numerical model for simulating wet or dry, forward or reverse combustion in one, two, or three dimensions. The formulation is considerably more general than any reported to date. The model allows any number and identities of components. Any component may be distributed in any or all of the four phases (water, oil, gas, and solid or coke).The formulation allows any number of chemical reactions. Any reaction may have any number of reactants, products, and stoichiometry, identified through input data. The energy balance accounts for heat loss and conduction, conversion, and radiation within the reservoir.The model uses no assumptions regarding degree of oxygen consumption. The oxygen concentration is calculated throughout the reservoir in accordance with the calculated fluid flow pattern and reaction kinetics. The model, therefore, simulates the effects of oxygen bypassing caused by kinetic-limited combustion or conformance factors.We believe the implicit model formulation results in maximum efficiency (lowest computing cost), and required computing times are reported in the paper.The paper includes comparisons of model results with reported laboratory adiabatic-tube test results. In addition, the paper includes example field-scale cases, with a sensitivity study showing effects on oil recovery of uncertainties in rock/fluid properties.

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