Evaluation of Steam Circulation Strategies for SAGD Start-Up

Abstract

The impact of steam quality, circulation rate and pressure difference between the well pair during SAGD initialization using steam circulation was explored through the use of numerical simulations employing a discretized wellbore model. These operating parameters appear to affect uniformity of reservoir heating, occurrence of steam breakthrough and time required to establish communication between the well pair. The simulation results indicate that, for the given tubing and liner sizes and reservoir properties, relatively lower circulation rates at high steam quality are more favourable for faster initialization and development of uniform temperature between the horizontal well pair. At lower steam qualities, however, higher circulation rates appear more favourable. The use of high steam quality in combination with high circulation rates leads to slower rates of initialization, less uniform heating along the length of the wells, and possibility of premature steam breakthrough at the heel. It was also found that having a higher steam quality in the lower well than in the upper well could lead to faster initialization and more uniform heating between the well pair. A small pressure difference, offsetting the natural hydraulic pressure (50kPa), appears to be more favourable for faster and more uniform initialization.