The impact of well spacing on three-dimensional in situ extraction of oil shale using high-temperature air injection

Abstract

To explore the impact of well spacing on the in situ high-temperature air injection for three-dimensional shale oil recovery, this study constructed six different well-spacing physical models of shale oil for investigation. By comparing factors such as temperature distribution, cumulative oil production volume, heating rate factor, and specific energy consumption per unit volume of shale oil among the six different well-spacing models, the influence of well spacing on the in situ high-temperature air injection for three-dimensional shale oil recovery was analyzed. The results showed that all six shale oil models exhibited a ripple pattern, advancing along the fractured fissures from the heating well to the production well. Model I, Model II, Model III, Model IV, Model V, and Model VI completed the full decomposition of the shale region at 2610, 1530, 1800, 3510, 4050, and 6660 days, respectively. The heating rate factor reached its peak at 1800, 900, 1440, 2340, 3240, and 3960 days. Model III had the lowest specific energy consumption per unit volume of shale oil, which was 905.41 kW/m3. Using Model III for three-dimensional shale oil injection with high-temperature air in situ recovery will shorten the heating time and reduce heat loss.