Multibranch Injector/Producer Wells in Thick Headvy-Crude Reservoirs

摘要

With modern drilling techniques, it is now possible to drill wells with multiple branches emanating from the same vertical or even horizontal trunk. Several heavy-crude reservoirs are very thick, and low vertical permeability would make them unattractive for single horizontal wells. Further, the much higher viscosity of the reservoir fluid results in highly unfavorable mobility. Thus, drilling stacked horizontal branches would create effectively thinner drainage areas in which the vertical mobility is far more forgiving. However, the clear benefit derived form thermal recovery favors Steam injection and invites investigation of ways to improve on the Steam Assisted Gravity Drive (SAGD) application.