Modification of a Mathematical Model of Non-Isothermal Flow in an Oil-Kerogen-Containing Reservoir Taking Thermal Degradation of Kerogen into Account

Abstract

This paper deals with modification of a mathematical model for the multicomponent non-isothermal flow of oil and gas considering the processes of thermal degradation of kerogen upon heating of oil-kerogen-containing reservoirs. A system of differential equations that describe thermal degradation is formulated based on the data on testing a thermal-gas method at the deposit of the Bazhenov formation, as well as using the data from laboratory pyrolytic studies. The one-dimensional initial-boundary problem that is obtained is solved using numerical methods. The numerical experiments were carried out at different values of parameters for two models: the classical model of multi-component three-phase flow and the model supplemented by the equations that describe thermal degradation. The computational results obtained based on the two different models are compared; the advantages of the model proposed in this paper are shown.