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A New SAGD-Well-Pair Placement:

A Field Case Review


Kamran R. Jorshari, SPE, and Brendan O’Hara, Husky Energy Incorporated

Summary This resulted in greater oil recovery in addition to lowering Hus-


Steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) has been improved con- ky’s environmental footprint (Saltuklaroglu et al. 2000).
sistently by experimenting with various solutions in both oil sands The SAGD process is a thermal recovery scheme in which two
and heavy-oil fields in Canada (Butler 1994; Singhal et al. 1998). wells are horizontally drilled with a vertical offset of approxi-
The SAGD process consists of two stacked horizontal wells and is mately 4 to 6 m (Fig. 2) (Edmunds et al. 1994). The producer (the
proven technology in heavy-oil fields (Butler and Yee 2000). lower well) is placed close to the base of the pay, and steam injec-
Employing the same concept of gravity drainage, SAGD-well- tion (the upper well) supports the drainage process by reducing oil
placement convention has been revisited and challenged many viscosity and maintaining reservoir pressure (Ito et al. 2004). In a
times (Birrell and Putnam 2000; Edmunds 1991; Parappilly and conventional SAGD-well-pair configuration, the horizontal wells
Zhao 2009). Known to the industry, the cross-SAGD (also called are positioned in the same direction (Tamer and Gates 2009).
XSAGD) (Stalder 2007) and J-shaped well steam-assisted gravity The I3/I4 SAGD well pair has been on production since Q4 of
drainage (JAGD) (Larter et al. 2008) processes are two examples 2005. Well I3 is the producer, and I4 is the companion injector
of fit-for-purpose well design and recovery schemes that require well in the pair. Fig. 1 shows the area of interest and subsurface
unique drilling practices. The Celtic pool, located in Lloydminster, well trajectories. In this field, the SAGD well pairs are spaced
Saskatchewan, is an active Husky Energy Incorporated (Husky) approximately 100 m apart. The well pairs have been equipped
thermal field that includes 31 SAGD well pairs. In this heavy-oil with downhole instrumentation: a distributed temperature sensing
pool, one of the SAGD well pairs (I3/I4; Well I3 as producer and (DTS) system with fiber optics. A single point pressure sensor
Well I4 as the injector) experienced production downtime soon af- was installed in the producer also.
ter coming into service. Following numerous unsuccessful service
jobs, several re-entry options were suggested in order to recover Geology
remaining reserves. These included sidetracking Well I3, redrilling On the basis of seismic interpretation and log analysis, a channel
a new well from the same pad location, or commencing a new well sequence has been clearly detected in the Sparky and General Pe-
from a different surface location. These cases were ranked, and in troleum (GP) intervals. The Sparky formation is overlain by the
2010, on the basis of a drilling-risk assessment, the new horizontal Waseca formation and underlain by the GP and Rex formations.
producer well (I3A) was drilled close to the existing well pair. The channel top is located at a depth of approximately 470 m and
Well I3A was placed counter currently below the existing injector consists of a sand/shale sequence covering the Sparky and GP for-
well (I4) and set successfully parallel to the abandoned Well I3. mations. The sand is unconsolidated extremely fine grain to fine
Steam conditioning was completed in the first quarter (Q) of 2011, grain with little clay content. On the basis of log and seismic data,
and the new SAGD well pair (I3A/I4) has been put on production the Sparky-GP channel has been recognized and is trending in the
successfully. northeast/southwest direction of Section 17. The general trend
The new well pair was positioned in the opposite direction of a and lateral extent of the channel are reasonably well identified in
conventional SAGD-well-pair placement. This paper presents the the section. The channel in Section 17 is trending northeast/south-
original I3/I4 pair performance, the challenges, results of redril- west, and it is estimated at approximately 1 km wide and approxi-
ling Well I3A, reservoir-simulation study, and recent field produc- mately 30 m thick. Although the reservoir sand quality varies by
tion of the I3A/I4 SAGD well pair. location, on the basis of log data, the pay package is fairly blocky
and uniform. The reservoir sandpack is described as having excel-
lent porosity and permeability quality and is highly saturated with
Introduction heavy oil. The average reservoir properties are summarized in
Husky has developed several thermal projects in the Lloydminster Table 1, and the pay definition is as follows:
region from pilot to commercial phases, including the well-known  Porosity > 24%
Pikes Peaks thermal project. The area of interest in this paper, the  Resistivity > 6–10 X  m
Celtic field, is in Township 52 Range 23 west of the third merid-  Gamma < 30 API
ian in the province of Saskatchewan. The Celtic field is central-  Stable spontaneous potential log (SP)
ized in Section 17 (Fig. 1) (Mobile Oil Canada 1996). Since the In the previously discussed Celtic Sparky-GP reservoir, the cur-
beginning of Husky’s SAGD pilot in 2001, the field has been rent interpretation uses a wave-dominated estuary. There is also a
expanded into a major SAGD field operation. From 2002 until belief that the channel sections of the estuary were influenced by
January 2011, 21 SAGD well pairs in Section 17 consumed tides in a micromesotidal system. The bulk of the reservoir would
approximately 6.2 million m3 cold water equivalent (CWE) of have been built during a transgressive phase (relative sea-level
steam and produced more than 2 million m3 of oil, which resulted rise), receiving sediment from both marine and fluvial sources
in a cumulative steam/oil ratio (CSOR) of 3.1 m3/m3. The central (Boyd et al. 2006). The relatively low-accommodation setting of the
processing facility consists of 16 steam generators, several test deposit and multiple transgressive phases can make breaking out fa-
separators, and treating systems, including water-softening plants. cies stacks difficult, considering both vertical sequences and lateral
In the Celtic field, high-quality steam is processed and injected extensions of lagoonal sediments and abandonment plugs. 3D- and
into the reservoir. The advantages of injecting higher-quality 4D-seismic interpretations with continually improving acquisition
steam include higher thermal efficiency and lower water disposal. and processing techniques are providing higher-resolution maps.
The target area is considered as a fluvial/tidal channel, with
sand-bar development and a final abandonment silt/shale plug
Copyright V
C 2013 Society of Petroleum Engineers
located in the final thalweg location within the estuary. This
This paper (SPE 149239) was accepted for presentation at the Canadian Unconventional would have been a higher-energy thoroughfare, with multiple
Resources Conference, Calgary, 15–17 November 2011, and revised for publication.
Original manuscript received for review 20 January 2012. Revised manuscript received for phases of deposition and erosion. A large siderite/calcite concre-
review 9 August 2012. Paper peer approved 16 October 2012. tion is suspected to have formed at the heel area of Well I3

12 January 2013 Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology


I3A in blue

I3 and I4 in black

Fig. 1—The Celtic field in the Lloydminster region and Wells I3, I3A, and I4 in SAGD-well-pair placement.

because adjacent wells had experienced drilling challenges when top of the reservoir pay. The surface casing was set at approxi-
they penetrated the reservoir from unconsolidated sand into a tight mately 129-m MD, and cement return was confirmed.
streak of siderite/calcite. Composition of the sediment is not During drilling of the build section of Well I3, lost-circulation
known exactly because there have been no core data that inter- volumes (8 m3) occurred in the Waseca formation, but were cured
sected the carbonate. However, several striplogs have reported following standard procedure. Then, the drillpipe became stuck in
high-density carbonate in the samples. This could be interpreted the Sparky formation (90 inclination at approximately 600-m
as a facies boundary caused by subaerial exposure during a minor MD) near the intermediate-casing point (ICP). Because the fishing
lowstand tract (e.g., small evaporatic pool). Fig. 3 shows effective job failed, the BHA was left behind and the hole was plugged back.
pay and base pay of the formation highlighting I3/I4 in Section 17 The drilling rig successfully sidetracked Well I3 and ran casing to
Township 52, Range 23, W3. the ICP. Fig. 4a presents the schematic of the wellbore, which was
submitted to the Ministry of Energy and Resources in Saskatche-
wan. The intermediate casing (95=8 in.) was set at 698-m MD. A
SAGD-Well-Pair History good cement bond was found at approximately 257-m MD, with
Husky had experienced drilling challenges in deeper zones aound one marginal cement bond from 151- through 190-m MD. The
this area up to 600 m. There was also a bottomhole-assembly bond-log interpretation confirmed that an adequate zonal isolation
(BHA) loss while drilling the build section of adjacent SAGD between the Sparky and the upper Mannville zones was achieved.
well pairs. Well I3 was spudded in February 2005. This well was However, to maintain integrity of the wellbore and safety of the
one of the 12 wells that formed the second expansion stage of the SAGD operation, a maximum injection pressure of 3900 kPa was
Celtic field’s commercial development. The bottomhole-assembly advised for the startup program. Well I3 was rig released in early
(BHA) loss was the Sparky formation, in which 463-m true verti- April 2005. A cross-sectional view of Wells I3 and I4 is plotted in
cal depth [467.5-m measured depth (MD)] was identified as the Fig. 4b, in which the first leg of Well I3 is illustrated. Effective lat-
eral length of Wells I3 and I4 are 434 and 428 m, respectively.
The pair was completed with a liner completion comprising an
alternating wire-wrapped screen with blank joints in the producer
well and an alternating slotted liner with blank joints in the injec-
tor well. The producer liner was 7 in. with 0.008-in. wire-

TABLE 1—AVERAGE RESERVOIR PROPERTIES IN THE AREA

Formation Sparky-GP

Net pay (m) 10–16


Depth (m true vertical depth) 470
Porosity (%) 32
Oil saturation (%) 80
Permeability (darcies) 3–5
Oil gravity ( API) 12
Initial reservoir pressure (kPa) 3300
Initial reservoir temperature ( C) 16
Dead-oil viscosity at 16 C (mPas) 33 000
Fig. 2—Schematic of SAGD-well-pair placement. Oil formation volume factor 1.00

January 2013 Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology 13


I3 and I4 wells I3 and I4 wells

Fig. 3—Effective pay (left) and base pay (right, in subsea elevation) of the Sparky formation with subject-well trajectories.

wrapped-screen size. A downhole fiber-optics instrumentation voir temperature was estimated at more than 140 C. However, the
string was deployed inside Well I3 to monitor the subsurface con- I3/I4 pair has not fully delivered the expected oil recovery
dition and flow assurance. (approximately 50%) because of productivity challenges. In 2009
Steam injection on Wells I3 and I4 began in October 2005, and when Well I3 was abandoned, the recovery factor was
and first oil was produced in December 2005. In 2006, and as part approximately 18%. Thus, a follow-up process was imperative in
of ongoing monitoring of the steam chamber in the new SAGD order to recover reservoir energy and produce remaining reserves.
pair, a few changes were applied to uniformly condition the well-
bore and workovers were performed to maintain production vol-
umes. As an example, an optimization program was planned to Drilling Well I3A
improve steam distribution along Well I4, and the expected result Husky conducted a risk evaluation on whether to drill a new pro-
was achieved. Figs. 5 and 6 present Well I3 temperature enhance- ducer well or to commence a sidetrack. The new horizontal well
ment from January through May 2006 as a result of the plan. By was to serve as a SAGD producer, using the existing injector well
comparison, it was noted that the steam chamber progressed to- (I4). Three options were assessed:
ward the second part of the Well I3 wellbore. However, the last  Option 1: Whipstock Well I3 at higher elevation and side-
50 m of Well I3 was found to be approximately 40 C colder than track 95=8- or 7-in. intermediate casing.
the rest of the well, explained by lack of heat support caused by  Option 2: Drill a new well from the surface location of Wells
the landing point of the injection string in Well I4. I3 and I4.
In Q4 of 2006, Husky field operations reported frequent pump  Option 3: Drill a new well from the opposite side of Well I4.
failures because of sand problems. In September 2007, a large A few risk factors were addressed, including:
amount of baked sand was discovered in the liner of I3 during a  To position the well, an active ranging tool was considered.
service job. The service rig tagged the solid material close to the However, the Well I4 wellbore temperature (Fig. 8) was greater
ICP, implying that the liner’s integrity had been compromised at than the tool’s specification. It was advised that applying cool-
approximately 760-m MD, approximately 50 m inside the liner. down water in Well I4 might cause surface congestion by the
The liner hanger was tested, but the result was positive. Since service rig and drilling rig, a simultaneous operation risk.
then, Well I3 has experienced numerous pump changes, a sonic  Because of the presence of the SAGD well pairs in the area,
stimulation workover, and an underreaming job. The sanding issue anticollision design was essential.
and production downtime were on the rise. As an example, more  Circulation losses in the depleted zone could impose opera-
than 20 m3 of fine sand was recovered (November 2008) in one tional risk to the active wells.
cleaning job. In Q1 of 2009, and during the underreaming job, the  The remaining BHAs and the abandoned well in the area
coil was parted and following an unsuccessful fishing procedure, could impair drilling results.
the coil assembly was left inside the liner. The well-pair perform-  There was some degree of uncertainty in encountering multi-
ance continued to diminish until April 2009, when its operation ple steam chambers and oil banks while drilling into the zone of
was suspended. The producer wellbore was no longer accessible interest.
because of mechanical failure. In November 2009, Husky per- The subsurface team reviewed each case and weighted oppor-
formed an abandonment job with two plug sets, one inside the liner tunity vs. impact. The team recommended advancing Option 1:
and another bridge plug inside the intermediate casing. To perform whipstock drilling through the existing 95=8-in. inter-
Fig. 7 exhibits the I3/I4 well-pair field production history. mediate casing and sidetrack a new parallel leg approximately 5
Water production did not reach steam injection because of down- m to the north of Well I3. To ensure suitability and safety of the
time and mechanical challenges that operations experienced in program, it was suggested running a caliper log or a dummy whip-
2007 and 2008. To date, the SAGD well pair produced approxi- stock before plan execution. In February 2010, a multiple-arm
mately 35 000 m3 of oil and consumed approximately 140 000 m3 caliper tool was run in Well I3, and results indicated that the inter-
CWE of steam, which amounts to a 4.0-m3/m3 CSOR. On the ba- mediate casing near to the ICP was deformed. Therefore, Option
sis of subsurface pressure and downhole temperature and pressure 1 was dismissed and Options 2 and 3 were reconsidered. The lat-
(T/P) data, the formation has been well-heated and average reser- ter was realized as a viable option, with lower-risk severity and

14 January 2013 Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology


SURFACE HOLE (0–120 m)

INTERMEDIATE HOLE (120–647 mKBMD)


MAIN HOLE (647 m–1131 m)
222 mm horizontal hole
Production casing:
244.50 mm, 59.5 kg/m, Set whipstock and Mill window into 244.5 mm casing at 647 m
L-80, QB2 from surface to Mud System: To be advised after temperature surve
698.0 mKBMD.
Possible Problems: sloughing, hole cleaning, differential sticking, lost circulation
Surveys: MWD-AEI
Logging: GR with MWD
Linor: 177.8 mm, L-80. DTC. 34.2 kg/m
Pipe arm configuration 0.007* slotted
Run with two blank joints at the heel for offset
Hanger:
244.5-mm x 177.8-mm
thermal liner packer set at
679.48 mKBMD
PR ICP - 647 mKBMD Liner Set - 627 mKBMD Liner TD - 1131 mKBMD

Whipstock

(a)

450
I3 first leg
455 I4 producer
I4 injector

460
Sparky top pick
Depth (m, true vertical depth)

465

470

475
I3-first leg
480
I4
485 Pump set
I3
490

495

500
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
East/west horizontal projection (m)
(b)

Fig. 4—(a) Well I3 completion program in 2005. (b) Wells I3 and I4 trajectories with elevation profile.

higher probability of success. Well I3A was drilled in January duction profile of the new SAGD pair (I3A/I4). A 3D full-field
2011 with no major re-entry problems. The I3A wellbore was model was built using the CMG (2007) STARSTM simulator
secured with good cement returns. The wellbore was completed incorporating the PETRELTM geological maps (Petrel E&P Soft-
and equipped with a rod pump. The Well I3A drilling samples ware Platform 2009). The model is heterogeneous, and water satu-
showed an excellent sand quality in the lateral section of the well. ration, porosity, and permeability are based on geostatistical
Fig. 9 depicts 3D views of Wells I3, I3A, and I4 relative to the ad- distribution of hard data. The horizontal permeability was based
jacent SAGD well pairs. on an established correlation between porosity and permeability
from the core analysis. The kv/kh ratio was varied slightly depend-
ing on the Vsh (shale volume recorded from log data). The ratio
Reservoir Simulation was an input parameter and did not train during the history-match-
The objective of reservoir modelling was to generate a static ing process, given low variation to the range of the log data. The
model representing the reservoir condition and to realize the pro- grid-cell numbers of the model are 23 in the x-direction (each 25

January 2013 Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology 15


210
25 May 2006 wellbore temperature
200 25 May 2006 wellbore temperature
25 May 2006 wellbore temperature
190 25 May 2006 wellbore temperature
25 May 2006 wellbore temperature
180
Temperature (°C)

170
160
150
140
130
120
ICP of I3
110 TD of I3

100
2051 2071 2091 2111 2131 2151 2171 2191 2211 2231 2251 2271 2291 2311 2331 2351 2371 2391 2411 2431
Distance from surface DTS box (m)

Fig. 5—Temperature profiles from 28 January through 1 February 2006 in Well I3.

25 May 2006 wellbore temperature


210 25 May 2006 wellbore temperature
25 May 2006 wellbore temperature
200 25 May 2006 wellbore temperature
25 May 2006 wellbore temperature
190
180
Temperature (°C)

170
160
150
140
130
120
110 ICP of I3 TD of I3

100
2051 2071 2091 2111 2131 2151 2171 2191 2211 2231 2251 2271 2291 2311 2331 2351 2371 2391 2411 2431
Distance from surface DTS box (m)

Fig. 6—Temperature profiles from 25 May through 30 May 2006 in Well I3.

350
Field_Oil
325 Field_Water
300 Field_Steam
275
250
225
Rate (m3/d)

200
175
150
125
100
75
50
25
0
May- Aug- Nov- Feb- May- Aug- Nov- Feb- May- Aug- Nov- Feb- May- Aug- Nov- Feb-
05 05 05 06 06 06 06 07 07 07 07 08 08 08 08 09
Field Operation (month)

Fig. 7—I3/I4 SAGD-well-pair production profile (actual).

16 January 2013 Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology


140

120

100

80

60
Temperature (°C)

Fig. 8—The Well I4 trajectory and temperature surveys.

I4

I4

I3

I3A

I3A

Fig. 9—3D view of Wells I3, I3A, and I4 with adjacent SAGD pairs in the field (left). Looking south, Wells I3A and I4 with their gamma
ray in green (right).

m), 108 in the y-direction (each 1 m), and 38 in the z-direction aligned well with field data, confirming the model’s validity to
(each 0.5 m). The grid-cell number totals 94,392, covering approxi- forecast production performance of the I3A/I4 pair. In early days,
mately 302 400 m3 of pore volume. Fig. 10 (right) shows a 3D underpredicted oil production from the model was explained by
view of porosity distribution with Wells I3A, I3, and I4. The model data precision and fluid-cut measurement in the field.
was validated by matching the pressure/saturation-dependent prop-
erties with the injection/production rates of I3/I4 and the reservoir
pressure. Although the model could not explain field production Results and Discussion
data from January through July 2006, its trend was reasonable. On the basis of the temperature surveys from 2009 through 2010,
Demonstrated in Fig. 10 (left), the rest of the I3/I4-pair history was it was expected that the I3A/I4-pair production fluid rate would

350
Field_Oil
325 Field_Water
Porosity 0.50
300 Field_Steam
Model_Oil 0.45
275
Model_Water
250 Model_Steam 0.40
225 0.35
Rate (m3/d)

200 0.30
175 0.25
150 0.20
125 0.15
100 0.10
75 0.05
50 0.00
25
0
May- Aug- Nov- Feb- May- Aug- Nov- Feb- May- Aug- Nov- Feb- May- Aug- Nov- Feb-
05 05 05 06 06 06 06 07 07 07 07 08 08 08 08 09
Field Operation (month)

Fig. 10—I3/I4 SAGD-pair production profile comparing field data and the reservoir model (left) and porosity of the reservoir model
with projected well path (right).

January 2013 Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology 17


quickly increase because the formation has been sufficiently Birrell, G.E. and Putnam, P.E. 2000. A Study of the Influence of Reservoir
warm for a few years. In March 2011, and before commissioning Architecture on SAGD Steam Chamber Development at the Under-
the well pair, a new temperature survey was completed in Well ground Test Facility, Northeastern Alberta, Canada, Using a Graphical
I3A. It was confirmed that the temperature in the lateral section Analysis of Temperature Profiles. Presented at the Canadian Interna-
was more than 100 C, with a maximum record of 130 C near the tional Petroleum Conference, Calgary, 4–8 June. PETSOC-2000-104.
heel. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/2000-104.
The reservoir model forecasted that the ramp-up rate could Boyd, R., Dalrymple, R.W., and Zaitlin, B.A. 2006. Estuarine and Incised-
reach a high-rate plateau of 45 m3/d of oil in less than 6 months. Valley Facies Models. In Facies Models Revisited, H.W. Posamentier
The result indicated that oil rate would start from 15 m3/d and and R.G. Walker, No. 84, 171–235. Tulsa, Oklahoma: SEPM Special
reach a maximum production level of 100 m3/d after 1 year. Publication, Society for Sedimentary Geology.
In April 2011, Well I3A was steamed for a 3-week period. It Butler, R.M. 1994. Steam-assisted Gravity Drainage: Concept, Develop-
was recommended to condition the wellbore gradually at a low ment, Performance And Future. J Can Pet Technol 33 (2): 44–50.
steam target to maintain approximately 2500-kPa reservoir pres- JCPT Paper No. 94-02-05. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/94-02-05.
sure. In early May, Wells I3A and I4 were put into SAGD mode Butler, R.M. and Yee, C.T. 2000. Progress in the In Situ Recovery of
and the oil rate was tested at 9 m3/d. Given its high efficiency, the Heavy Oils and Bitumen. Presented at the Canadian International Pe-
Well I3A pump speed increased and the oil-production rate was troleum Conference, Calgary, 4–8 June. PETSOC-2000-050. http://
measured at 22 m3/d in June and July. The well-pair pressure drop dx.doi.org/10.2118/2000-050.
and the bottomhole subcool were calculated, and steam allocation CMG. 2011. STARS User Manual, Version 2007.10. Calgary, Alberta:
was modified accordingly. The oil-production rate increased to 43 Computer Modelling Group.
m3/d of oil in early August. Further tests and analyses are required Edmunds, N.R. 1991. Effective Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage to Long
to examine the well pair’s productivity in the long term. Horizontal Wells. Proc., Petroleum Society of CIM/AOSTRA Techni-
cal Conference, Banff, Alberta, Canada, 21–24 April 1991, Paper No.
91-55.
Conclusions Edmunds, N.R., Kovalsky, J.A., Gittins, S.D. et al. 1994. Review of Phase
• In the Celtic heavy-oil field, the I3/I4 SAGD well pair gradually A Steam-Assisted Gravity-Drainage Test. SPE Res Eng 9 (2): 119–214.
experienced more mechanical challenges while performing as SPE-21529-PA. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/21529-PA.
expected for the first 2 years. The producer well (I3) was shut Ito, Y., Hirata, T., and Ichikawa, M. 2004. The Effect of Operating Pres-
in after 4 years in service. sure on the Growth of the Steam Chamber Detected at the Hanging-
• To capture remaining reserves, a development plan was consid- stone SAGD Project. J Can Pet Technol 43 (1). PETSOC-04-01-05.
ered, including a paradigm shift in the basic assumptions of the http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/04-01-05.
recovery-process setup. Larter, S., Adams, J., Gates, I.D. et al. 2008. The Origin, Prediction and
• Conventional SAGD well construction was re-examined, and Impact of Oil Viscosity Heterogeneity on the Production Characteris-
an opposite entry point was proposed for trajectory of a new tics of Tar Sand and Heavy Oil Reservoirs. J Can Pet Technol 47 (1).
producer well, I3A. PETSOC-08-01-52. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/08-01-52.
• Drilling results of a SAGD pair have direct impact on the pair’s Mobile Oil Canada. 1996. Celtic SAGD Pilot Expansion: Celtic Field,
performance, just as the geological signature of the reservoir Saskatchewan. Application for an Extension of the Existing Recovery
does (Aherne and Maini 2008). In the presented case study, pro- Project. Submitted to Saskatchewan Energy and Mines (SEM), Regina,
ductivity of the pair was enhanced by executing a proper dril- Saskatchewan (November 1996).
ling program and using the existing injector well (I4). Parappilly, R. and Zhao, L. 2009. SAGD with a Longer Wellbore. J Can
• As a valuable lesson learned in Well I3, it is recommended to Pet Technol 48 (6): 71–77. PETSOC-09-06-71. http://dx.doi.org/
conduct a dummy run before performing a sidetrack job, con- 10.2118/09-06-71.
firming operability of the service tool and also the casing Saltuklaroglu, M., Wright, G.N., Conrad, P.R. et al. 2000. Mobil’s
condition. SAGD Experience at Celtic, Saskatchewan. J Can Pet Technol 39
• In late 2010, Well I3A was commenced by crossing the steam (4): 45–51. JCPT Paper No. 00-04-03. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/00-
zone and while formation was active. The well was placed suc- 04-03.
cessfully countercurrently below the existing injector well (I4) Singhal, A.K., Ito, Y., and Kasraie, M. 1998. Screening and Design Crite-
and parallel to the abandoned Well I3. Drilling success was a ria for Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) Projects. Presented
result of implementing an alternative ranging method, simulta- at the SPE International Conference on Horizontal Well Technology,
neous operation program, control loss management, and well- Calgary, 1–4 November. SPE-50410-MS. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/
defined trajectory survey. 50410-MS.
• The I3A/I4 well-pair performance and economic evaluation Stalder, J.L. 2007. Cross SAGD (XSAGD)–An Accelerated Bitumen Re-
were supported by result of a 3D geostatistical simulation covery Alternative. SPE Res Eval & Eng 10 (1): 12–18. SPE-97647-
model and validated against the field data to project production PA. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/97647-PA.
feasibility. This model was also used to optimize the I3A/I4 Tamer, M. and Gates, I.D. 2009. Impact of Well Configuration on Per-
pair’s operating strategy. formance of Steam-Based Gravity Drainage Processes. Presented at
• A modified drainage strategy was designed for the I3A/I4 pair, the Canadian International Petroleum Conference, Calgary, 16–18
resulting in an increase over previous production volume, with June. PETSOC-2009-046. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/2009-046.
a plateau rate of approximately 100 m3/d of oil in 2012.
Kamran R. Jorshari is Lead Thermal Reservoir Operations with
Acknowledgements Husky, with more than 24 years’ divers experience in the
The authors would like to thank Husky for permission to publish upstream and downstream oil and gas industry. He focused
this work. The key success in this project was a collaborative on advanced reservoir engineering, field operating strategy,
effort between the drilling, field operations, and development reservoir management, and thermal recovery applications in
both technical and managerial roles with major operators
teams. Also, the authors would like to thank Tim Henderson for
where he registered three Patents in Canada and the US.
development and planning updates and Cindy Dai for her support Before joining Husky, Jorshari worked at Statoil as a Subsurface
on simulation runs. Engineering Manager in oil-sands development projects,
where he developed an engineering toolbox supporting new
project qualification with higher predictive accuracy while
References
reducing prospect evaluation time. The cochair and organizer
Aherne, A.L. and Maini, B. 2008. Fluid Movement in the SAGD Process: for various international technical conferences, and recently
A Review of the Dover Project. J Can Pet Technol 47 (1). PETSOC- appointed as Chairman of 2013 SPE Heavy Oil Conference-
08-01-31. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/08-01-31. Canada, Jorshari holds a BSc degree in chemical and

18 January 2013 Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology


petroleum refining engineering from Tehran University and Brendan O’Hara has been working at Husky Energy since 2008.
MSc and PhD degrees in petroleum engineering from the Uni- He began his career in the field in the North Sea in 2001.
versity of Calgary. Currently, he serves as Editorial Review O’Hara pays particular attention to seismic data and local
Board member for the Journal of Canadian Petroleum Tech- geomagnetism with regard to wellbore placement in reser-
nology and sits on the SPE Editorial Review Committee and is a voirs. He holds a BSc degree in geology from Queen’s Univer-
registered professional engineer in Alberta. sity in Belfast, Ireland.

January 2013 Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology 19

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