Experimental and Numerical Studies on Multiple Well Pairs SAGD Performance

• Author / Creator

  Wang, Xinkui

• A laboratory experiment and a numerical simulation of a dual well pair SAGD process with live bitumen were conducted to examine operating strategies on the recovery performance of a multiple well pair SAGD process.

  The experiment was successfully carried out under such operation strategies as injecting steam into one well pair while producing from both producers after chambers mergence to sweep the oil between the two well pairs. The experimental results showed high oil recovery from the transition region between the two well pairs with these operation strategies. Numerical simulation matched reasonably well experimental results, which indicated that the numerical model captured the key mechanisms of the dual well pairs experiment. The improved SAGD process behaviour and performance was demonstrated in terms of faster oil production, enhanced solution gas production, and accelerated adjacent chambers communication in the experimental and numerical studies.

  These operation strategies could be applied in the multiple well pairs SAGD and enhance SAGD performance after steam chambers merge between adjacent well pairs.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • SAGD Process
  • Steam
  • Bitumen Recovery
  • Performance Enhancement
  • Multiple Well Pairs
  • Operation Strategy
  • Experimentation
  • Simulations

• Graduation date

  Fall 2010

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R36K6V

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.