A Review of Practical Experience and Management of the SAGD Process for Oil Sands Development

Abstract

With the fluctuation of international oil prices due to limited conventional petroleum resources, unconventional energy, including bitumen and extra heavy oil, are of primary interest these days. However, in-situ recovery processes of these resources are somewhat complicated, and there are many technical challenges accompanying it. For the recovery process, it is widely known that thermal techniques using steam are essential in reservoir heating. Especially, the steam-assisted gravity drainage process is a leading technology in the development of oil sands. This article presents the steam-assisted gravity drainage process for the production of oil sands by reviewing and analyzing several authors and companies.

A Critical Review of Reservoir Simulation Applications in Key Thermal Recovery Processes: Lessons, Opportunities, and Challenges

“…Various challenges are still faced by academia and industry while simulating different thermal recovery processes. Researchers have published good review papers on thermal recovery. ,,− ,,,− Most of them either focused on generally introducing a thermal recovery process or a certain phenomenon or mechanism. However, applications of reservoir simulations in key thermal recovery processes and their challenges have not been their focus and have not been sufficiently addressed.…”

Использование Сверхкритических Флюидов Для Извлечения Природных Битумов Из Нефтебитуминозных Пород

“…Толе би, 59, Алматы, Казахстан 3 Институт Проблем Горения, ул. Богенбай Батыра 172, Алматы, Казахстан 4 Казахский национальный университет имени аль-Фараби, пр. аль-Фараби, 71, Алматы, Казахстан…”

“…В настоящее время применяются методы переработки битуминозного песка для извлечения природного битума из песка с использованием горячей воды, технология гравитационного дренажа с водяным паром, процесс экстракции на водной основе, сверхкритическая флюидная экстракция, экстракция щелочным раствором, экстракция растворителем и пенная флотация [3][4][5][6]. Для нефтенасыщенного битуминозного песка основными методами являются пиролиз и процесс экстракции растворителем [7,8].…”

Interfacial Chemistry in Steam-Based Thermal Recovery of Oil Sands Bitumen with Emphasis on Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage and the Role of Chemical Additives

“…Conceived and developed by Butler and his coworkers at Imperial Oil in the late 1970s, SAGD is the most widely-used steam-based in situ heavy oil/bitumen recovery method currently available [54]. The original SAGD concept was aimed at improving recovery using gravity as the major driving force involved in separating the oil from the reservoir matrix.…”