Effects of Packer Locations on Downhole Electric Heater Performance: Experimental Test and Economic Analysis

Thumbnail Image

Access rights

openAccess
publishedVersion

URL

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
This publication is imported from Aalto University research portal.
View publication in the Research portal (opens in new window)
View/Open full text file from the Research portal (opens in new window)

Authors

Date

2020-01-13

Department

Department of Civil Engineering

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

Language

en

Pages

17

Series

Energies, Volume 13, issue 2

Abstract

A downhole electric heater, which reduces heat loss along a heat insulation pipe, is a key apparatus used to ignite oil shale underground. Downhole heaters working together with packers can improve the heating efficiency of high-temperature gases, while different packer locations will directly affect the external air temperature of the heater shell and, subsequently, the performance and total cost of the downhole heaters. A device was developed to simulate the external conditions of heater shells at different packer locations. Then, the effects of external air temperature on the performance of a downhole heater with pitches of 50, 160, and 210 mm were experimentally studied. In the test, results indicated that the heater with a packer at its outlet had an accelerated heating rate in the initial stage and decreased temperature in the final stage. Additionally, the lowest heating rod surface temperature and highest comprehensive performance were achieved with minimal irreversible loss and lower total cost when using a downhole electric heater with a packer set at its outlet. In addition, the downhole electric heater with a helical pitch of 50 mm and a packer at its outlet was more effective than other schemes in the high Reynolds number region. These findings are beneficial for shortening the oil production time in oil shale in situ pyrolysis and heavy oil thermal recovery.

Description

Keywords

oil shale, in situ pyrolysis, packer, downhole electric heater, economic analysis

Other note

DOI

10.3390/en13020377

Citation

Guo, W, Wang, Z, Sun, Y, Lu-Tervola, X, Wang, Y, Deng, S & Li, Q 2020, 'Effects of Packer Locations on Downhole Electric Heater Performance: Experimental Test and Economic Analysis', Energies, vol. 13, no. 2, 377. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13020377

Permanent link to this item

https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202001171615

Collections

[article-cris] Insinööritieteiden korkeakoulu / ENG