Technology

Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) vs. Mining

SAGD   Mining
  • SAGD has a smaller surface footprint
  • SAGD typically uses water from deep reservoirs
  • SAGD does not require tailings ponds
  • SAGD does not require an upgrader for product to enter the pipeline
  • Mining surface footprint is much larger
  • Mining projects typically use fresh water from rivers
  • Mining requires an upgrader prior to product entering the pipeline

 

 

In Situ Technologies

The team at AOSC has extensive expertise in recovering unconventional oil using in situ recovery processes, such as Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD).

Characteristics of the SAGD Process

Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) is an in situ (in place) heavy oil recovery technology used to recover heavy oil and bitumen.

SAGD is a thermal production method for heavy oil and bitumen that pairs a horizontal injection well with a horizontal production well drilled along a parallel trajectory. The wells are drilled with a vertical separation of approximately 5 meters with the injector above the producer, and with both wells positioned low in the reservoir. Saturated steam is injected into the reservoir via the SAGD injection well where the steam rises and expands throughout the reservoir.

Upon contact with the cold bitumen in the reservoir the steam condenses thereby heating the bitumen and reducing its viscosity. The goal is to reduce the bitumen’s viscosity so that it will flow under gravitational forces, along with the condensed steam, to the SAGD production well, that in turn extracts the bitumen to surface heavy oil production facilities.

Dover West – conceptual development (AOSC)

  • clastics produced by more typical SAGD
  • carbonate reefs may be produced using SAGD, Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS) or even conventional stimulation