Preventing SAGD Headaches

See how other operators are improving pad start-up

What if your SAGD pad doesn't start up well. What if the steam chamber doesn't connect from injector to producer?

Without AppIntel, how can you tell if other operators are having pad start-up headaches? How will you know what's working and what's not? When you have AppIntel just type   SAGD start into the KiP search box.

One operator believes she has hit on a startup stimulation method that will develop steam chambers quickly.

Check out a detailed description of her stimulation procedure including modifications required by the regulator.

Help yourself to her application documents using our self serve document portal.

Why doesn't SAGD work?

In theory, SAGD should just work.

Injectors introduce steam heat that melts bitumen in situ. The steam sets up a steam chamber in the reservoir that contains less viscous bitumen.

The melted bitumen flows down by gravity to a producing well.

But what if the steam chamber doesn't develop as expected?

What if the injected steam does not develop a big enough chamber to reach a producer?

Many operators are struggling with getting steam chambers working.

How will you discover how others are solving the SAGD startup problem?

Do you feel like re-inventing the SAGD startup wheel?

Every other SAGD operator is dealing with the same SAGD start up issue. How will you find their successes and failures?

Conferences - too late

You could wait until a yearly conference to see if anyone will discuss the problem. But these conferences rarely produce solutions early enough to help.

And conference talks don't discuss all the trials, blind alleys, and failures behind a success.

Simulations - not enough data

Running simulations might help.

But usually a simulation predicts full steam chamber development. It won't tell you why the steam chamber isn't developing.

Applications of other operators - just right

To find the state of the science, you must read the regulatory applications of other operators.

These applications are full of start-up field trials and strategies. Full of successes and failures. Full of delight and embarrassment.

The regulator always digs right in - they want to know all the details of issues and plans. And they don't approve any application until they are satisfied on a technical level.

Fast and easy access to applications - even better using AppIntel

You can find just the right application using our google-like search engine.

And Appintel delivers application documents within moments of your order.

Many pad start-up strategies

Operators show in their regulatory applications that they have tried many steam chamber start up tricks. They are trying to fully develop steam chambers.

Some operators advocate circulating

Some have increased pressure during startup.

A few have tried solvent injection to start-up a pad. It has proved a very popular addition to the SAGD algorithm of success.

Some have even used microbes during start-up.

Discover their plans, their successes and failures. It can stop you from inventing the wheel.

You owe it to yourself and your investors to read the application documents that explore SAGD pad start-up field trials. You decide whether it will work for your field.

Tags: Polymer, Gas Injection, Thermal, Heavy Oil

Granger Low  20 Feb 2019

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