Physical and Numerical Simulations of Steam Drive and Gravity Drainage Using the Confined Bottom Oil–Water Transition Zone to Develop Super Heavy Oil

The existence of the bottom oil–water transition zone (BTZ) greatly impairs performance conventional steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process and its mitigation measures are very limited. In order to accelerate oil production decrease Steam-to-Oil Ratio (SOR), a promising technology involving steam drive (SDGD) by placing dual-horizontal wells with high permeability in BTZ was systematically studied. This paper conducted two-dimensional (2D) three-dimensional (3D) physical simulations as well 2D numerical simulation SDGD explore mechanism, potential, application conditions. research findings indicate that enhanced through dilation stimulation can achieve higher lower SOR than SAGD process. fully leverages advantage quickly establish inter-well thermal hydraulic connectivity. chamber first forms around injector then spreads towards producer. By exerting horizontal displacement drained oil, rapidly ramps up keeps at rate under synergistic effect drainage. These insights enhance our understanding conditions confined develop super heavy or sands.