Thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) has become a critical approach in unlocking heavy oil and unconventional reservoirs by utilizing heat transfer and complex chemical processes. CMG’s STARS simulator is an industry-leading tool that enables engineers and geoscientists to model thermal processes such as Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD), steam flooding, and in situ combustion. This training course provides participants with hands-on skills to build, run, and optimize thermal recovery models, focusing on process simulation, heat transfer, and reaction kinetics to evaluate production performance and recovery strategies.

Through practical applications and real-world case studies, participants will explore workflows for thermal reservoir modeling, analyze fluid-rock interactions, and optimize recovery methods under different operational scenarios. Emphasis will be placed on designing thermal projects, calibrating models with laboratory and field data, and forecasting production outcomes to support field development decisions. By the end of the training, attendees will have the expertise to apply CMG STARS effectively in designing and managing thermal EOR projects.

Duration: 10 Days

Target Audience

• Reservoir engineers
• Petroleum engineers
• Thermal EOR specialists
• Simulation engineers
• Geoscientists and geologists
• Process engineers in oil and gas
• Production engineers
• Research and development professionals
• Field development planners
• Consultants in reservoir modeling
• Graduate students in petroleum engineering

Objectives

• Understand the fundamentals of thermal EOR processes
• Build and simulate thermal reservoir models using STARS
• Apply SAGD, steam flooding, and in situ combustion workflows
• Model heat transfer and thermal conductivity in reservoirs
• Simulate fluid-rock and chemical interactions
• Calibrate models with laboratory and pilot test data
• Perform history matching for thermal EOR projects
• Conduct sensitivity analysis for thermal recovery parameters
• Forecast performance under different thermal recovery methods
• Optimize field operations based on simulation insights
• Visualize and report thermal simulation outputs effectively
• Apply best practices in STARS process simulation

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Thermal EOR and STARS

• Overview of thermal recovery methods
• Capabilities of CMG STARS simulator
• Role of heat transfer in EOR
• Process simulation fundamentals
• Case study examples

Module 2: Fundamentals of Heat Transfer in Reservoirs

• Conduction, convection, and radiation principles
• Reservoir thermal conductivity concepts
• Modeling heat distribution in STARS
• Impact of heat on reservoir properties
• Practical applications in thermal modeling

Module 3: Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD)

• SAGD principles and field applications
• Building SAGD models in STARS
• Well pair configurations and design
• Monitoring and optimizing steam injection
• Case studies in SAGD performance

Module 4: Steam Flooding Simulation

• Fundamentals of steam flooding processes
• Building steam flood models in STARS
• Injection strategies and design parameters
• Evaluating recovery performance
• Lessons from field projects

Module 5: In Situ Combustion Modeling

• Principles of in situ combustion
• Chemical reaction kinetics in reservoirs
• Building combustion models in STARS
• Modeling heat release and propagation
• Practical examples of combustion projects

Module 6: Data Preparation for Thermal Simulation

• Input requirements for thermal modeling
• Preparing rock and fluid property data
• Incorporating laboratory and PVT/SCAL data
• Ensuring data quality and consistency
• Input formatting for STARS

Module 7: Fluid-Rock Interaction and Chemistry

• Modeling chemical reactions in STARS
• Fluid-rock interaction mechanisms
• Impact of thermal processes on permeability
• Modeling water-gas-oil reactions
• Case examples in chemical simulation

Module 8: Model Initialization and Calibration

• Defining initial reservoir conditions
• Running initialization simulations
• Matching initial pressure and temperature profiles
• Calibration with lab and pilot data
• Practical calibration workflows

Module 9: History Matching in Thermal Simulation

• Fundamentals of history matching for EOR
• Adjusting model parameters for accuracy
• Reducing mismatch between observed and simulated data
• Iterative history matching workflows
• Tools for calibration in STARS

Module 10: Forecasting Thermal EOR Performance

• Short- and long-term forecasting methods
• Evaluating thermal recovery efficiency
• Predicting production trends
• Economic implications of forecasts
• Case studies in forecasting

Module 11: Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analysis

• Identifying key recovery parameters
• Running sensitivity tests in STARS
• Uncertainty analysis workflows
• Risk assessment for thermal projects
• Reporting uncertainty results

Module 12: Well Modeling in Thermal EOR

• Defining thermal well trajectories
• Injection and production well configurations
• Modeling wellbore heat losses
• Optimizing well placement for thermal recovery
• Case examples in well modeling

Module 13: Scenario Analysis and Optimization

• Building alternative thermal scenarios
• Evaluating operational changes in steam or heat input
• Impact of varying injection rates
• Optimization techniques in STARS
• Practical exercises in scenario analysis

Module 14: Visualization and Reporting Tools

• Visualization of temperature distribution
• Production plotting in STARS
• 2D and 3D output analysis
• Reporting thermal EOR results
• Communicating findings to stakeholders

Module 15: Future of Thermal EOR Simulation

• Advances in thermal recovery technologies
• AI and machine learning in thermal EOR
• Cloud-based thermal simulation platforms
• Integration with real-time field data
• Future trends in thermal reservoir modeling

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.