Thermodynamics of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs and Production

a comprehensive course by Prof. Abbas Firoozabadi, RERI and Yale University

July 9-12, 2012; Palo Alto, CA

Scope
This intensive course covers thermodynamics of reservoir fluids and conventional and unconventional oil and gas reservoirs (in particular, shale gas), modeling of CO2 and N2 injection in hydrocarbon reservoirs, and CO2 sequestration in the subsurface. Another focus of the course will be on thermodynamics of nano-particles and the vast opportunity that they offer for process improvement, efficiency, and safety. Interfacial thermodynamics and thermodynamics of irreversible processes will be covered to shape understanding and modeling of different processes which can help with a variety of topics from oil and gas reservoir initialization and production to wax and asphaltene precipitation to past changes in climate. Some of the concepts are presented through cartoons to facilitate understanding of a broad range of topics.


Items of discussion in the course will include:
• Unique properties of CO2 in comparison to N2 and methane and other gases. Features of CO2 for improved recovery in unfractured and fractured oil reservoirs, and gas condensate reservoirs. N2 injection schemes, field experiences in different reservoirs in different parts of the world.

• Effect of salinity on solubility,in phase behavior and wettability.

• Shale gas and shale light oil reservoirs and unique features of storage capacity

• Strength of Cubic-Plus-Association EOS for a variety of complex problems in aqueous mixtures and asphaltene precipitation.

• Predictive capability of EOS and reservoir fluid characterization.

• CO2 diffusion in water and in reservoir fluids. Why is diffusion critical in some subsurface flow conditions?

• Formation of nano-particles of asphaltene and hydrates, and advantage of surface property changes to bulk phase property changes.

• Effect of size and nano-particles on melting, and on saturation pressure.

• Very efficient two-phase and three-phase split computations.

• Unique powers of irreversible thermodynamics in relation to past climate changes.

• Understanding the kinetics of solution-gas drive and its importance to a variety of major applications in oil production and CO2 sequestration.

• Basic-level understanding of micro-emulsion and micellization and application to a variety of problems in hydrocarbons production.

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Schedule

The course will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, July 9 and will end at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 12. Daily sessions will be from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm with a lunch break from 12:15 pm to 1:30 pm. Part of the afternoon sessions will be devoted to discussion.

Day 1

8:30 am – 9:45 am
General course agenda and set of ten problems. Day Agenda.

Introduction and overview of CO2, N2, and H2O injection in oil and gas reservoirs. Introduction and overview of nano-particles in flow assurance of asphaltenes and hydrates, gas solubility in water in pores of shale gas reservoirs. Species distribution in oil and gas reservoirs. Thermodynamics approach to the understanding and modeling of bulk phases under equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions, and surfaces.

9:45 am – 10:15 am
Review of basic concepts in bulk phase equilibrium thermodynamics, irreversible thermodynamics, and interfacial thermodynamics

10:15 am – 10:30 am
Coffee break

10:30 am – 12:15 pm
General theory of bulk phase thermodynamics

12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
Lunch break

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Phase behavior and volumetric description of fluids from Cubic Equations of State (EOS). Nature of delay and kinetics in various processes including vaporization, condensation, crystallization, and melting.

2:30 pm – 3:15 pm
Description of phase behavior of aqueous systems with the Cubic-Plus-Association EOS and applications to CO2 injection in water flooded oil reservoirs, CO2 sequestration, and thermal improved recovery processes.

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm
Coffee break

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Characterization of reservoir fluids for modeling of various processes including equilibria of vapor-liquid, vapor-liquid-liquid, wax precipitation, and asphaltene precipitation. Unique features of CO2 and N2 injection in different reservoirs in various parts of the world. Discussion and experience sharing.

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Day 2

8:30 am – 10:15 am
Day 2 Agenda.

Single-phase and two-phase compressibility, and heating and cooling due to expansion. Stability and criticality concepts and criteria, and applications in problems of hydrocarbon reservoirs and production.

10:15 am – 10:30 am
Coffee break

10:30 am – 12:15 pm
Gibbs free energy surface analysis. Tangent plane distance analysis. Stability analysis for flash computations in two-phase and three-phase.

12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
Lunch break

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Two- and three-phase flash calculations for efficient compositional simulation. Stability analysis and phase-split computations in the reduced space.

2:30 pm – 3:15 pm
Wax precipitation modeling. Asphaltene precipitation modeling. Discussions.

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm
Coffee break

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
General theory of irreversible thermodynamics and its applications

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Day 3

8:30 am – 9:30 am
Day 3 Agenda.

Diffusion flux (Fickian, thermal, and pressure) and diffusion coefficients in binary and multicomponent mixtures; basic issues.

9:30 am – 10:15 am
Simple introduction of surface phenomena in thermodynamics work expression. Kelvin equation. Condensation and vaporization in nano-pores.

10:15 am – 10:30 am
Coffee break

10:30 am – 12:15 pm
Effect of size on melting temperature and introduction of thin films. Condensation in shale gas and shale light oil reservoirs. Adsorption phenomena in shale oil and gas reservoirs.

12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
Lunch break

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Generalities on shale gas reservoirs.

2:00 pm – 3:15 pm
General theory of interfacial thermodynamics and non-equilibrium phenomena. New phase formation and nucleation.

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm
Coffee break

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Solution gas drive in light and heavy oil reservoirs and nucleation. Discussions.

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Day 4

8:30 am – 9:30 am
Day 4 Agenda.

Thermodynamics of micellization and microemulsion. Stabilization of nano-particles by steric and electrostatic repulsion.

9:30 am – 10:15 am
Hydrate anti-agglomeration and applications in natural gas and oil production in the offshore. Oil capture in deep water.

10:15 am – 10:30 am
Coffee break

10:30 am – 12:15 pm
Asphaltene stabilization in petroleum fluids.

12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
Lunch break

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Wettability alteration to intermediate gas wetting. Well productivity improvement in gas condensate reservoirs.

2:30 pm – 3:15 pm
Set of 10 problems and solutions

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm
Coffee break

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
General discussion.

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Location

Sheraton - Palo Alto


625 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 328-2800
map

For additional travel information, such as directions and hotel options nearby, click here. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone.

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Fees and Registration

The fee for attendance is US $2,500. For the staff members of those companies who are members of the Institute, the fee is US $2,100. The course fee includes a copy of Thermodynamics of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs, a draft of a new book, and a file containing relevant papers.

A deposit of US $500 is required to reserve space. Full payment is due by June 12, 2012. Deposits may be refunded upon cancellation at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the course. Please use the form bellow to register. Payments can be made by wire transfer or check. Please make checks payable to: Reservoir Engineering Research Institute.

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Preferential Hotel Rates

If interested, course participants can take advantage of discounted rates at The Cardinal Hotel in downtown Palo Alto. The rates are based on the general availability in the hotel and are valid for the period 7/09/2012 - 7/12/2012:

$125.00 + tax for standard room with private bath
$70.00 + tax for shared-bath style room (single occupancy)

For reservations and more details about the Cardinal Hotel, please click here.

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