Tar Mats and Bitumen Deposition; Origins and Properties

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Disciplines: Drilling and Completions | Production and Operations | Reservoir

Course Description

Tar and bitumen deposition can be upstructure, or at the oil-water contact or various locations in-between. Tar can be impermeable and might or might not be a regional seal. In other cases, tar zones can be highly permeable flowing light oil. Tar can have the rheology of coal, or can flow (or ooze). The origins of this bewildering array of tar properties have been grossly misunderstood in part due to the lack of any thermodynamic treatment of asphaltenes. The recent development of the Flory-Huggins-Zuo equation of state (FHZ EoS) for asphaltenes, with its reliance on the Yen-Mullins model of asphaltenes, has led to a simple, concise form of asphaltene thermodynamics, thereby enabling a 1st-principles approach addressing tar deposition and tar mats. Another prior shortcoming was the lack of reservoir fluid data to enable a robust evaluation of asphaltene thermodynamics. Downhole Fluid Analysis (DFA) is now ubiquitously acquired and provides asphaltene gradients in crude oil with exquisite accuracy. A decade of reservoir studies employing these advances has elucidated a broad array of reservoir fluid geodynamic processes that give rise to asphaltene accumulation and destabilization yielding bitumen deposition and tar mat formation. Wide-ranging data streams support conclusions of the reservoir studies including production data, pressure transient analysis, analytical chemistry, geochemistry, flow assurance analysis, core extracts, mud gas analysis and petrophysics. This new vantage provides an excellent foundation for treating tar and bitumen deposition in virtually all reservoirs.

Topics:
 

• Crude Oil Characterization
• Petroleum Systems and Trap Filling
• Reservoir Fluid Geodynamics
• Tar Mats and Bitumen Deposition
• Tar Case Studies; DFA with Integration
• Workflow for Reservoir Tar Analysis

Learning Level

This course is designed to introduce a new understanding of tar and bitumen and to bring novices on these topics up to speed. Principles presented in this course will be accessible to those with only the most basic understanding of crude oil. Nevertheless, asphaltene and tar experts will also benefit. The holistic approach will empower oilfield technologists from beginners to experts and from reservoir technologists to reservoir management.

Course Length

1 Day

Why Attend

Tar mats and bitumen deposition have significant impact on reservoir concerns including aquifer support and sweep efficiency, location of water injectors, productivity of formations, viscosity gradients and viscous oil at the OWC, mobile bitumen, upstructure tar and bitumen deposition, and asphaltene flow assurance. This course treats all these concerns with a relatively simple, yet comprehensive framework. The link between tar-related issues and ‘reservoir fluid geodynamics’ will be clarified. This course is designed to help technologists assess and mitigate development risks associated with tar, bitumen and asphaltenes in reservoirs.

Who Attends

• Oilfield technologists, especially those on asset teams
• Petrophysicists
• Reservoir engineers
• Geologists and geophysicists
• PVT and fluid experts
• Geochemists
• Research chemists
• Field engineers

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations must be received no later than 14 days prior to the course start date. Cancellations made after the 14-day window will not be refunded. Refunds will not be given due to no show situations.

Training sessions attached to SPE conferences and workshops follow the cancellation policies stated on the event information page. Please check that page for specific cancellation information.

SPE reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule courses at will. Notification of changes will be made as quickly as possible; please keep this in mind when arranging travel, as SPE is not responsible for any fees charged for cancelling or changing travel arrangements.

We reserve the right to substitute course instructors as necessary.

Instructor