METHODS FOR VAPOR SOLVENT FLOOD BITUMEN RECOVERY OPERATIONS FOLLOWING THERMAL RECOVERY PROCESSES

摘要

Methods of conditioning an underground reservoir that has undergone a thermalrecoveryprocess to promote improved efficiency during a subsequent solvent-dominatedrecoveryprocess are described herein. The methods include determining a temperature ofthereservoir, injecting pressurizing fluid into a voidage formed in the reservoirduring thethermal recovery process to increase a pressure of the reservoir; monitoringthe pressureof the reservoir; and in response to the monitored pressure reaching apredeterminedrecovery pressure selected based on a determined temperature: injectingmobilizing fluidcomprising vapor solvent into the reservoir, the vapor solvent having a liquid-vapor phaseboundary proximate the determined temperature and the predetermined recoverypressure; and producing fluid comprising mobilized bitumen from the reservoir.