USE OF STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE WITH OXYGEN ("SAGDOX") IN THE RECOVERY OF BITUMEN IN THIN PAY ZONES
A SAGDOX process to recover liquid hydrocarbons from at least one thin pay zone in a hydrocarbon bitumen reservoir, via a substantially horizontal production well, where the hydrocarbon bitumen reservoir has a top and a bottom. The process includes: i) Injecting steam into the hydrocarbon bitumen reservoir above the substantially horizontal production well; ii) Injecting oxygen into the hydrocarbon bitumen reservoir above the substantially horizontal production well; iii) Recovering liquid hydrocarbon via gravity drainage into the substantially horizontal production well.
1 . A process to recover liquid hydrocarbons, from at least one thin pay zone in a hydrocarbon bitumen reservoir via a substantially horizontal production well wherein said hydrocarbon bitumen reservoir further comprises, a top and a bottom; said process comprising the use of Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage with Oxygen (SAGDOX) wherein:
i) steam is injected into said hydrocarbon bitumen reservoir above said substantially horizontal production well,
ii) oxygen is injected into said hydrocarbon bitumen reservoir above said substantially horizontal production well,
iii) liquid hydrocarbon is recovered via gravity drainage into said substantially horizontal production well.
2 . The process of claim 1 wherein said steam is injected proximate said at least one thin pay zone.
3 . The process of claim 1 wherein said oxygen is injected proximate said at least one thin pay zone.
4 . The process of claim 2 wherein said oxygen is injected proximate said at least one thin pay zone.
5 . The process of claim 1 wherein said oxygen and said steam are injected into said reservoir at a ratio from about 0.05 to 1.00 v/v.
6 . The process of claim 1 wherein said substantially horizontal well further comprises a toe section and a heel section.
7 . The process of claim 6 wherein said toe section is at a first level in said reservoir and said heel section is at a second level in said reservoir.
8 . The process of claim 7 wherein said heel section is closer to said bottom and said toe section is closer to said top of said reservoir.
9 . The process of claim 1 wherein said SAGDOX has a Toe-to-Heel SAGDOX geometry.
10 . The process of claim 1 wherein said SAGDOX has a Single Well SAGDOX geometry.
11 . The process of claim 1 wherein said at least one thin pay zone is segregated from said hydrocarbon bitumen reservoir.
12 . The process of claim 1 wherein said at least one thin pay zone has a thickness of less than about 25 metres.
13 . The process of claim 1 wherein said at least one thin pay zone has a thickness of less than about 15 metres.
14 . The process of claim 1 wherein the substantially horizontal production well is used to produce water and liquid hydrocarbons and is completed within 2 m metres of the reservoir bottom.
15 . The process of claim 1 wherein the steam is injected within 20 metres from the substantially horizontal production well.
16 . The process of claim 1 wherein the oxygen is injected within 50 metres from the substantially horizontal production well; wherein said substantially horizontal production well further comprises at least one a perforation zone less than 50 metres in length.
17 . The process according to claim 16 wherein the oxygen and steam are controlled in the range from 0.05 to 1.00 (v/v) oxygen:steam.
18 . A process according to claim 17 wherein the ratio of oxygen to steam is increased during the process so that the oxygen/steam ratio (v/v) is maximized proximate the end of the process.
19 . The process of claim 9 wherein said THSAGDOX further comprises an uplifted toe section in said substantially horizontal well.