Heavy fluid injection method for cellar hydrocarbon recovery
OwnerLawrence J. Frederickinventor
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Abstract
A method for producing residual hydrocarbon located in a cellar region of a reservoir after SAGD hydrocarbon production, wherein a higher-density fluid is injected into a first producer well to displace the residual hydrocarbon toward a second, adjacent producer well. The method may also produce residual hydrocarbon located in infill regions.
Claims30
A method for producing residual hydrocarbon located in a cellar region of a reservoir after SAGD hydrocarbon production, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. drilling a first SAGD well pair into the reservoir, comprising a first injector well and a first producer well;
- b. drilling a second SAGD well pair into the reservoir, comprising a second injector well and a second producer well, adjacent the first SAGD well pair;
- c. operating the first and second SAGD well pairs to produce hydrocarbon from the reservoir, leaving the residual hydrocarbon in the cellar of the reservoir;
- d. ceasing production of the hydrocarbon through the first producer well;
- e. injecting a fluid into the reservoir through one of the first injector well and the first producer well, the fluid having a density greater than the density of the residual hydrocarbon;
- f. allowing the residual hydrocarbon to be displaced from the cellar toward the second producer well by the injecting of the fluid;
- and
- g. producing the residual hydrocarbon through the second producer well.
A method for producing residual hydrocarbon located in a cellar region of a reservoir after SAGD hydrocarbon production, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. drilling a first SAGD well pair into the reservoir, comprising a first injector well and a first producer well;
- b. drilling a second SAGD well pair into the reservoir, comprising a second injector well and a second producer well, adjacent the first SAGD well pair;
- c. drilling a third SAGD well pair into the reservoir, comprising a third injector well and a third producer well, such that the first SAGD well pair is situated between the second SAGD well pair and the third SAGD well pair;
- d. operating the first, second and third SAGD well pairs to produce hydrocarbon from the reservoir, leaving the residual hydrocarbon in the cellar of the reservoir;
- e. ceasing production of the hydrocarbon through the first producer well;
- f. injecting a fluid into the reservoir through one of the first injector well and the first producer well, the fluid having a density greater than the density of the residual hydrocarbon;
- g. allowing the residual hydrocarbon to be displaced from the cellar toward the second and third producer wells by the injecting of the fluid;
- and
- h. producing the residual hydrocarbon through the second and third producer wells.
A method for displacing residual hydrocarbon located in a cellar region of a reservoir after SAGD hydrocarbon production, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. drilling and operating a first SAGD well pair comprising a first injector well and a first producer well, and a second SAGD well pair comprising a second injector well and a second producer well, leaving the residual hydrocarbon in the cellar of the reservoir;
- b. ceasing production through the first producer well;
- c. injecting a fluid into the reservoir through one of the first injector well and the first producer well, the fluid having a density greater than the density of the residual hydrocarbon;
- d. allowing the residual hydrocarbon to be displaced by the fluid from the cellar toward the second producer well;
- and
- e. producing the residual hydrocarbon through the second producer well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.