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Alternative Well Configuration

Alternative well configurations are being investigated to improve the effectiveness of Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) technology.

There are two phases of investigation currently underway. One phase is focused on arranging the well bores differently than classical SAGD configurations, where wells are drilled in pairs, with one well for steam injection and one well for producing bitumen. The other line of study is looking at changing the internal configuration of the SAGD well bore.

X-Drain modelSimulations have been carried out on six alternative well configurations to determine their ability to improve SAGD operations by:

  • accelerating bitumen recovery;
  • reducing the amount of steam required to produce a barrel of bitumen;
  • accessing stranded bitumen; and
  • reducing the number of wells required.

Alternative well configurations like XSAGD, X-Drain™ (a trademarked and patented process owned by GeoSierra/Halliburton), and Multi-Azimuthal fractures would change the classical SAGD layout. Others, such as Fishbone or High Cross Injector would supplement the classical SAGD well configuration. The objective is to reduce or eliminate the need to produce the energy-intensive steam now injected into the ground to heat the bitumen until it flows and can be moved to the surface.

The most promising alternative well configurations will be field tested over the next year or two.