Transcripción del resumen del autor. The vapour extraction (VAPEX) process has been an intense research topic in recent years as an alternative technology to thermal recovery methods for heavy oil and bitumen resources. Most previous 2D transparent models had simulated the vapour chamber evolution behaviour of a vertical slice of the reservoir; however, the longitudinal vapour chamber evolution characteristic in 3D geometry could not be detected. This paper presents the results of 3D monitoring of the VAPEX process in a laboratory model, using computed tomography (CT) technology to investigate the vapour chamber expansion behaviour in both radial and longitudinal directions. The results show that in 3D geometry, "V" shape vapour chamber expansion was a localized phenomenon. The dominant characteristic was that solvent gas first broke through upward to the top, progressing through the high-permeability zone by gravity segregation, forming a vapour chamber at the top. It then expanded downward from the top as the experiment progressed. From the numerical analysis of the CT images, the in-situ porous medium's porosity, density and oil saturation profiles were obtained. The results further imply that contained gravity drainage may be the key for the success of the VAPEX process.

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