Two-Phase Modeling of Gravity Drainage of Bitumen from Tar Sand Using In-Situ RF Electrical Heating

A. Hassanzadeh
Pyrophase Inc., Chicago, IL, USA
Published in 2008

In-situ electrical heating technologies are among the most recent technologies used for bitumen recovery from tar sand and oil shale. These technologies have limited environmental impact because there is little disturbance of the land, and water and solvents are not used.

Two-phase movement of bitumen and air in tar sand porous deposit is modeled using COMSOL Multiphysics. A system of non-linear PDE(s) for movement of each of the phases is coupled with heat transfer equation to account for heat diffusion through media. Effects of variation in properties of bitumen and reservoir media due to temperature and pressure are considered which are derived from experimental data.

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