Recent Observations At The Golden Lake Sparky Fireflood Pilot

Abstract

Abstract The Husky operated Golden Lake Sparky fireflood pilot has been in operation since 1968, and the pilot history, field characteristics, and operating results through 1981 have been reported in the literature. During the following four years the pilot was expanded extensively. In 1982, two additional patterns were ignited and, in 1983, seven wells were drilled to complete one additional pattern and parts of three others. In late 1984/early 1985, fifteen wells were added to complete four patterns, add five offsetting producers, and replace an abandoned well. In late 1985, ignitions were attempted at three of the newly completed patterns. Four events which occurred between 1981 and 1986 broadened our understanding of the fireflood process in this reservoir. Chronologically these events were:large air injection fate increases were imposed at three mature patterns in 1983;water influx (likely from an underlying sand) began in late 1983 and affected an increasing number of wells;during 1983, 1984, and 1985, a number of attempts were made to establish more uniform vent rates within patterns; andignitions were attempted at three partially depleted patterns adjacent to the existing pilot in December 1985. Using the data collected during these events the following conclusions were reached:increasing air injection rates above a "critical" level shifted production to wells outside the patterns;water influx was highly detrimental to the fireflood's performance;attempts to achieve uniform pattern vent rates were unsuccessful and often resulted in an over-all oil production drop; andmodified ignition methods are required for partially-depleted, low-pressure fireflood patterns adjacent to a mature pilot. Introduction The Golden Lake Sparky fireflood pilot is located in Township 48, Range 23 west of the 3rd Meridian approximately 55 Ian southeast of Lloydminster (Fig. 1). The Golden Lake Sparky Pool was discovered by stratigraphic test well C13-1-4ll-23 in 1964, and eight production wells were drilled in Sections 11, 12, and 14 from 1964 to 1966. Only one well produced at sufficient rates to be economic however, and, by 1968, it was concluded that the oil was too viscous to be recovered by primary production. Feasibility studies of available enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes resulted in the selection of the fireflood process, and, In 1968, an application to initiate a pilot was submitted to, and accepted by, the Saskatchewan Department of Mineral Resources. Ignition of a single 8.1 ha (20-acre) inverted five-spot pattern was achieved in 1969, and two additional 12.1 ha (30-acre) inverted seven-spot patterns were drilled in 1973 and ignited in 1974. Each pattern was converted to wet combustion about two years after ignition at a design water-to-air ratio of 1.15 m3/M sm3 (205 bbl/MM sft3). Additional wells were drilled in 1981 to complete two additional 12.1 ha (30 acres) inverted seven-spot patterns. Details of the pilot's operation from inception through 1981 have been discussed by Fairfield and White(1). Operational experiences at the Golden Lake Sparky pilot have been similar to those cited in a 1985 paper by Langley(2).