Toe-To-Heel Air Injection (THAI) Process
THAI是一种储层短距离操作的拟重力稳定火驱开发方式。研究表明，THAI还可以将超稠油油藏和油砂的流体部分改质。传统的火驱ISC工艺采用垂直注气井和生产井，由于明显的窜流和/或过度运行，体积驱替非常有限。通过在油层底部使用水平井采油，就克服了这些缺陷，因此，特殊的脚尖到脚跟（TTH）井配置能够在储层中形成受控的流动形态。长距离驱替变为转换为短距离驱替一种有效的动用储量和提高波及范围的方式，例如SAGD、THAI以及压驱过程。CMG的STARS等模拟器可以模拟这些过程。
Abstract
A pseudo-gravity stable displacement in-situ combustion process operating over short reservoir distance. It has a proven record of producing partially upgraded oil in case of extra-heavy oil reservoirs and oil sands. Toe-To-Heel Air Injection (THAI)* is a newly developed in-situ combustion (ISC) technology for recovery of a partially upgraded oil from heavy oil reservoirs. In the conventional ISC process, which uses vertical injectors and producers, the volumetric sweep is very limited due to pronounced channeling and/or over-running. These deficiencies are overcome by using horizontal producers placed at the bottom of the oil zone, so that a special toe-to-heel (TTH) well configuration enables a controlled flow pattern to develop in the reservoir.
