Abstract
Connacher’s first oil sands project, the Pod One facility at Great Divide, has been operational since 2007. The successful SAGD project has produced approximately 7 million barrels of bitumen. During the past three and a half years, the impacts of certain predicted reservoir challenges and opportunities have become apparent.
While the quality of the oil sands in this first phase of Pod One is generally good, Pad 101 South in particular has geological zones that affect SAGD operation. This includes a bitumen lean zone, and a gas cap overlying the main bitumen channel/s. Early field results matched with detailed simulations have shown positive results in maximizing well pair production. For the purposes of this paper a lean bitumen zone differs from an aquifer in two ways. The lean zone is not charged, and is limited in size. The operation is also complicated by the fact the gas bearing zone has been depleted through earlier production.
Connacher’s operating practice at Great Divide attempts to achieve a pressure balance between the 3 zones (rich oil sands, lean zone, gas cap) to reduce steam loss and maximize production rates. Reducing the pressure encourages steam chamber development growth horizontally and ensures that steam contacts the highly saturated bitumen areas. How this is achieved with the highest positive impact on well productivity is illustrated with operational data and analysis including the results of simulations that recommended the optimum operating strategies.
