Simulation of Geomechanical Behavior during SAGD Process using COMSOL Multiphysics®

Steam-Assistant-Gravity-Drainage (SAGD) has become one of the most commonly used thermal recovery processes to extract heavy oil from oil sand reservoirs, especially in Northern Alberta, Canada. However, due to geological history, interbedded shales (IBS) in the reservoir act as barriers due to their low permeability and as such hinder the progression of the steam chamber. Cap-rock integrity also needs to be ensured to prevent steam breakthrough. Therefore, a comprehensive investigation of coupling between thermal multiphase fluid flow and geomechanics is required in modeling SAGD processes to properly address the above issues. In this paper, the THM behavior of the heavy oil reservoir was studied through a proper constitutive modeling of the porous media. Both homogeneous and non-homogeneous reservoir conditions were investigated based on stress path and stress/strain field analyses.