Parabolic trough solar concentrating technology is a new and clean way to replace the conventional fossil fuel technology to generate steam for heavy oil recovery in oilfield. A computational model was constructed with simulated direct normal irradiance from nearby similar climate locations. Different system configurations were analyzed with the model, such as with single- and dual-loop, with and without heat storage system. Finally, several solar field configurations with different collector field layouts were compared by the cost of unit generated steam. Results show that using heat storage can effectively improve the stability of steam production, and in a certain oilfield, an optimum steam production amount and optimum heat storage time (HST) exist for lowest steam cost. The methods and results in the paper provide useful suggestions for the implementation of a solar thermal oilfield steam production system.

References

1.
Sun
,
X.
,
Dong
,
M.
,
Zhang
,
Y.
, and
Maini
,
B. B.
,
2015
, “
Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery in Thin Reservoirs Using Foamy Oil-Assisted Methane Huff-n-Puff Method
,”
Fuel
,
159
, pp.
962
973
.
2.
Speight
,
J. G.
,
1999
, “
The Chemical and Physical Structure of Petroleum: Effects on Recovery Operations
,”
J. Pet. Sci. Eng.
,
22
(
1–3
), pp.
3
15
.
3.
Dong
,
X.
,
Liu
,
H.
,
Hou
,
J.
,
Zhang
,
Z.
, and
Chen
,
Z. J.
,
2015
, “
Multi-Thermal Fluid Assisted Gravity Drainage Process: A New Improved-Oil-Recovery Technique for Thick Heavy Oil Reservoir
,”
J. Pet. Sci. Eng.
,
133
, pp.
1
11
.
4.
Moritis
,
G.
,
2011
, “
Chevron Starts California Demo of Solar-to-Steam Enhanced Recovery
,”
Oil Gas J.
,
109
, pp. 86–88.
5.
Halabi
,
M. A.
,
Al-Qattan
,
A.
, and
Al-Otaibi
,
A.
,
2015
, “
Application of Solar Energy in the Oil Industry—Current Status and Future Prospects
,”
Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev.
,
43
, pp.
296
314
.
6.
Molchanov
,
P.
,
2011
, “
Solar EOR Keeps Advancing: Oman to Build First System in Mid-East
,”
Raymond James Energy Report
, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., St. Petersburg, FL.
7.
Al Riza
,
D. F.
,
ul Haq Gilani
,
S. I.
, and
Aris
,
M. S.
,
2011
, “
Hourly Solar Radiation Estimation Using Ambient Temperature and Relative Humidity Data
,”
Int. J. Environ. Sci. Dev.
,
2
(
3
), pp.
188
193
.
8.
Wagner
,
M. J.
, and
Gilman
,
P.
,
2011
, “
Technical Manual for the SAM Physical Trough Model
,” Office of Scientific and Technical Information Technical Reports, Office of Scientific and Technical Information, Oak Ridge, TN, Report No.
NREL/TP-5500-51825
.
9.
Roldan
,
M. I.
,
Valenzuela
,
L.
, and
Zarza
,
E.
,
2013
, “
Thermal Analysis of Solar Receiver Pipes With Superheated Steam
,”
Appl. Energy
,
103
, pp.
73
84
.
10.
Moss
,
T. A.
, and
Brosseau
,
D. A.
,
2005
, “
Test Results of a Schott HCE Using a LS-2 Collector
,”
ASME
Paper No. ISEC2005-76022.
You do not currently have access to this content.