Geomechanics for Heavy Oil Reservoirs 

Instructor: Mehrdad Soltanzadeh, PetroGem Inc 
Date: March 8, 2021, 8:30 am-4:30 pm (1 day) 
The e-course link will be sent two days in advance of the course 
CPD: 8

Overview: 
This course will review: 
- Significance of geomechanics for heavy oil reservoirs
- Basics of rock mechanics and reservoir geomechanics
- Geomechanical characteristics of oil sands
- Geomechanics principals for in-situ thermal operations
- Geomechanics principal for cold production in heavy oil reserves
- Concept of induced stress changes in thermal operations
- Coupled thermo-poro-mechanical modeling
- Principals of caprock integrity analysis
- Integrated workflow for reservoir containment assessment

The participants attending this course will be able to:
- Recognize the importance of implementing geomechanics in heavy oil reservoirs
- Explain the fundamental concepts of rock mechanics and reservoir geomechanics
- Identify the specific characteristics of shallow oilsands and their differences with deep sedimentary rocks 
- Explain the geomechanical behavior of in-situ thermal and cold production operations in heavy oil reservoirs
- Describe the concept of induced stress change in thermal and cold production operations
- Recognize different components of coupled thermo-poro-mechanical models
- Explain the principals of caprock integrity analysis workflows  

Figure 1: Coupled Thermo-poro-elastic Modeling for In-situ Thermal Operations

Figure 2: Schematic of Induced Stress Change in the Caprock during SAGD Operation

Geoscientists, engineers and researchers involved with heavy oil operations. 
The course will be a combination of lectures, quizzes, case studies and hands-on exercises supported by online materials.

Mehrdad is a geomechanics expert at PetroGem Inc. with over two decades of industrial and academic experience in different areas of geomechanics such as drilling, fracking, geological storage, in-situ thermal operations, earth dams and foundations. Mehrdad holds degrees in civil, geotechnical and geological engineering and he is a professional engineer with both APEGA and Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Mehrdad is currently the director of PetroGem Inc. providing consulting, training and software solutions for the oil and gas industry.