Life hack: splitting steam for better conformance in SAGD

Make sure steam gets to the toe

If SAGD is to progress to longer injection wells, operators need a way to deliver steam to the very toe. Steam splitters may be the answer.

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One operator proposes some very long SAGD pairs -- up to 1600 m long. To ensure steam gets to the toe, they intend to use steam splitters. If it works, the future will bring longer SAGD wells, and fewer surface pads, and lower drilling capital. We found this information using AppIntel.

See this operator's technology in his submission documents from our self-serve portal.

Steam splitters are injector jets with a sliding sleeve that are designed to control steam injection in a horizontal well. The design attempts to ensure that all the steam is not injected in one place, but some steam travels to the end of the well.

With these and other similar devices, SAGD operators are trying to spread their steam along the injectors and improve the consistency of their steam chambers.

Tags: Thermal, Heavy Oil

Granger Low  21 Jan 2025

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