ALREADY A MEMBER? Please log-in to access the course.
HAVING TROUBLE LOGGING-IN? Please clear your cache and log-in again.
DESCRIPTION: A deep dive into everything that happens below the surface in a typical thermal in-situ facility — from the initial planning stages to late-life and enhanced recovery methods, for both CSS and SAGD operators.
LENGTH: 15 LESSONS • 2 HRS
15 Video Lessons • 2 hrs
Slide Deck • 113 pg PDF
Video Transcript • 30 pg PDF
References • 6 pg PDF
$250
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
SITE PLANNING & WELL PLACEMENT
Get a basic overview of the resource mapping phase and well pad planning, including well placement, drilling and completion, observation wells, and the different types of wellheads.
STEAM CHAMBER OPERATION & MONITORING
Learn more about how steam chambers develop over time, the importance of temperature and pressure set-points, and how steam chambers are monitored through instrumentation, surface heave and seismic data.
THERMAL BITUMEN RECOVERY
Take a deep dive into the different stages of bitumen recovery, for both CSS and SAGD operations. We’ll cover the different phases of recovery, including late-life, enhanced recovery techniques and some of the more common challenges encountered subsurface.
LIFT MECHANISMS
Learn the key differences between natural and artificial lift, including gas lift and the most common mechanical lift installations found in the oil sands.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
SLIDE DECK • 113 PAGE PDF
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT & REFERENCE DOCS (INCL. URL LINKS)
COURSE CURRICULUM
CHAPTER 1: RESOURCE DELINEATION & SITE PLANNING [6 MIN]
• SUBSURFACE TERMINOLOGY
• RESERVOIR CHARACTERIZATION
• WELL POSITIONING
• WELL PAD PLANNING
• SITE PREPARATION
CHAPTER 2: DRILLING AND COMPLETION [17 MIN]
• PAYZONE CHARACTERISTICS
• WELL ORIENTATION
• WELL DRILLING
• WELL PAD DESIGN
• WELL COMPLETION
• SAND CONTROL
• WELLHEADS
• OBSERVATION WELLS
CHAPTER 3: WELL OPERATION [8 MIN]
• RESERVOIR TEMPERATURE
• STEAM PRESSURE VS TEMPERATURE
• RESERVOIR STATIC PRESSURE
• CAPROCK FRACTURE PRESSURE
• PAYZONE PERMEABILITY
• RESERVOIR FRACTURE PRESSURE
CHAPTER 4: STEAM CHAMBER MONITORING [11 MIN]
• PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
• TEMPERATURE MONITORING
• SURFACE HEAVE
• SEISMIC MONITORING
CHAPTER 5: THERMAL RECOVERY
• ACTIVE OIL SANDS FORMATIONS
• CSS vs SAGD TECHNOLOGY
CHAPTER 5: PART 1 — CYCLIC STEAM STIMULATION [11 MIN]
• ACTIVE CSS FACILITIES
• WELL ORIENTATION
• CSS CYCLES — STEAMING, SOAKING & DILATION
• DRIVE MECHANISMS — EARLY, INTERMEDIATE & MATURE
• LATE-LIFE RECOVERY & STEAMFLOODING
• CSS LIFE CYCLE OIL RECOVERY & SOR
CHAPTER 5: PART 2 — STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE [14 MIN]
• ACTIVE SAGD FACILITIES
• SAGD WELL PAIRS
• SAGD CYCLES
→ STEAM CIRCULATION (PRE-HEAT)
→ RAMP-UP SAGD PHASE
→ STEADY-STATE (PLATEAU)
→ WIND-DOWN
→ BLOWDOWN
• SUB-COOL EXPLAINED
• SAGD LIFE CYCLE OIL RECOVERY & SOR
• SAGD vs CSS RECOVERY RATES
CHAPTER 6: LATE-LIFE & ENHANCED RECOVERY [11 MIN]
• INFILL WELLS
• SOLVENT ADDITION
• NON-CONDENSIBLE GAS (NCG) CO-INJECTION
• STEAM ADDITIVES
CHAPTER 7: RESERVOIR CHALLENGES & CONSTRAINTS [21 MIN]
• THIEF ZONES: TOP GAS, BOTTOM WATER & LEAN ZONES
• POOR STEAM CONFORMANCE
• FLOW CONTROL DEVICES
→ INFLOW VS OUTFLOW CONTROL DEVICES
→ TUBING vs LINER DEPLOYED
→ PASSIVE vs AUTONOMOUS ICDs
• INFILL WELLS & WELL PAIRS
• OUTBOARD & STEP-OUT WELLS
• SIDETRACK & MULTILATERAL WELLS
• RESERVOIR DEPRESSURIZATION
→ MATURE WELL OPERATION
→ WELL INCOMPATIBILITY
→ PROLONGED STEAM OUTAGES
CHAPTER 8: LIFT MECHANISMS [12 MIN]
• NATURAL vs ARTIFICIAL LIFT
• STEAM LIFT
• GAS LIFT
• MECHANICAL LIFT
→ ROD PUMPS
→ PROGRESSIVE CAVITY PUMPS
→ ELECTRIC SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS
• SAGD vs CSS PRODUCTION PROFILE
FAQs
WHAT IS THE COURSE FORMAT?
Each lesson is presented in video format. Key graphics and charts are included in the slide deck. A downloadable transcript of the videos, references, and links to further reading material are also provided.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE THE COURSE?
All 15 videos take about 2 hours to complete, but feel free to go at your own pace. Each time you log in, you can continue where you left off. You can also go back and review the previous lessons, as needed.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO COMPLETE THE COURSE?
The course is open for 30 days after registration. If you need more time, please contact us.
WHAT KIND OF BACKGROUND OR EXPERIENCE DO I NEED?
This course is suitable for all levels, and is intended to provide an overview of the bitumen recovery process for thermal in-situ facilities operating in the Alberta oil sands. A basic knowledge of oil sands geology is helpful, but not required.
CAN I RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION FOR THE COURSE?
Once all chapters are completed, a downloadable “Certificate of Completion” will appear on the left sidebar.
WHAT IF I STILL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
No problem — just send us an email using our contact form.