To date, most SAGD projects have used a combination of high-pressure steam injection, natural steam lift, and gas lift to transport the produced fluids to surface.

However, in large regions of the Athabasca oil sands, the presence of a depleted or naturally low pressured gas and water bearing formation directly above the reservoir makes it necessary for producers to operate the producing and injection wells at much lower pressures to avoid steam chamber losses. Also, the high cost of natural gas and the added energy required to generate high-pressure steam are encouraging producers to move to lower steam injection pressures to reduce steam–oil ratios.

At these lower injection and production pressures, some form of artificial lift (AL) is required to bring the produced fluids to surface. However, due to the challenging conditions, a technically viable, reliable AL technology has not yet been identified. As a result, operators are considering implementing different SAGD well architectures to improve low-pressure production conditions for one or more of the existing AL methods.

The LP-SAGD Wellbore Architecture Alternatives project was initiated to address issues such as suitable wellbore designs, drilling and completion equipment requirements, effects on the SAGD production process, and matching of AL technologies with these well designs.

Contact: Peter Kis, Manager, Drilling & Completions

Tel: 780.450.8989 x284