A New Concept of Enhanced SAGD Process
by Adding Intermittent Steam-Stimulation
on Lower Horizontal Production-Well(SAGD-ISSLW)

 


K. Sasaki, Assoc. Professor, Akita University, Akita,010(Japan)
S. Akibayashi,Professor, Akita University, Akita,010(Japan)
M. Kato, Engineer, JODCO, Chiyodaku,Tokyo,100 (Japan)
K. Ono, Director, TRC, JNOC, Mihamaku, Chiba, 261(Japan)

Japanese Page

Fig. 1 Comparison of steam chambers of usual SAGD and SAGD-ISSLW.
(Reservoir models: 300 x 300 mm, 4.5 mm thickness,t= 9 hours)

Fig. 2 Cumulative oil production and steam chamber area vs. time
(Reservoir model: 300 x 300 mm, 4.5 mm thickness)

Abstract
An enhanced SAGD process named SAGD-ISSLW for heavy oil recovery has been investigated by experiments using 2-dimensional scaled physical models, video and infra-red visualization techniques. The new process uses a lower horizontal well with both functions of intermittent steam-injection and continuous oil-production instead of the usual SAGD production-well. Meanwhile, like the usual SAGD, the steam is also injected continuously through the upper well. The benefits of the new concept proposed in this study are quick buildup of steam chamber and higher oil production rate as compared to the usual SAGD process. The process also has advantages for setting longer vertical well spacing and keeping temperature of flowing heavy-oil in the surface-drilled SAGD production-well by its configuration with a steam injection tubing.

References
1)Butler, R.M., JCPT, 1985, 24-3, 42-52.
2)O'Rouke , J.C., et al., Petroleum Soc. of CIM and AOSTRA, paper #94-40, 1994.
3)Liderth, D., Daily oil Bulletin, May, 1995, 2.
4)Sasaki, K. et al, 1996, Proc. 2nd Int. Three-Day Conf. on Horizontal Well Tech.(SPE#37089)


Return to REsources Production & Safety engineering Home Page