In-situ combustion pilot operations in the Wabasca heavy oil sands deposit of North Central Alberta, Canada

Conference · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6420019

Alderman, J H; Fox, R L; Antonation, R G

A wet in situ combustion pilot was conducted in the Wabiskaw formation of the Wabasca heavy oil sands deposit from February 1981 until February 1983 to determine if this process would be economically feasible. A single 20-acre (8.09-ha) inverted 7-spot was chosen as the pattern for the pilot. The operational concept was that the producing wells would be cyclic steamed to stimulate them at the same time that the wet in situ combustion process was being conducted. To monitor the movement of the combustion front, a series of 3-dimensional seismic surveys was scheduled. The initial survey was conducted prior to air injection and was used as a reference. The pilot performance using cyclic steam and wet in situ combustion as well as the results of the 3-dimensional seismic monitoring are discussed. The well completions and surface facilities design as well as operational concepts to allow year round operation in the environment are discussed also. 11 references.

• OSTI ID: 6420019
• Report Number(s): CONF-8310121-
• Journal Information: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Vol. SPE-11953; Conference: SPE annual technical conference, San Francisco, CA, USA, 5 Oct 1983
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
ALBERTA
WABASCA DEPOSIT
OIL SANDS
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
STEAM INJECTION
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
SEISMIC SURVEYS
VISCOSITY
WELL COMPLETION
WELL SPACING
WELL STIMULATION
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CANADA
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
MATERIALS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SAND DEPOSITS
OXIDATION
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
STIMULATION
SURVEYS
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
040401* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- In Situ Methods
True & Modified