Abstract
Crude oil (bitumen) in oil sands is extremely heavy and the API gravity of the bitumen is usually around ten degree or less. The viscosity varies from 100, 000mPa•s to 8, 000, 000mPa•s at reservoir condition. Due to this remarkably high viscosity and low gas solubility, conventional methods of recovery are not applicable. Thermal techniques aim at reducing oil viscosity in order to increase its mobility, through the application of heat.The oil sand deposits in Alberta of Canada contain about 270 billion cubic meters of bitumen and are expected to play an increasingly important role in the Canadian and world energy picture in the near future.SAGD (Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage) process is a newly developed thermal recovery technique with a pair of horizontal wells, originated by Dr. Butler in 1978. The pilot test has been conducted at UTF (Underground Test Facility) project in Alberta province by using SAGD process since 1987. The production performance of the pilot test wells is actually much better than that of the wells of the commercially operated projects such as Esso's Cold Lake, Amoco's Wolf Lake and Shell's Peace River.This paper introduces the UTF project and explains the drilling method of a pair of horizontal wells and the basic mechanism of SAGD process comparing with CSS (Cyclic Steam Stimulation) process which is a conventional thermal technique in bitumen recovery. It also discusses the economics of the existing commercial projects and the future commercial projects by SAGD process.
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