PROCESSES FOR PRODUCING HYDROCARBONS DURING LATER STAGE GRAVITY DRAINAGE-BASED HYDROCARBON RECOVERY PROCESSES

摘要

A hydrocarbon producing process comprising operating a first thermally-actuated gravitydrainage-based process with a first well pair within a first communicationzone, wherein the firstthermally-actuated gravity drainage-based process includes injecting amobilizing gaseousmaterial into the first communication zone via an injection well of the firstwell pair such thathydrocarbon material is mobilized, and producing mobilized hydrocarbonmaterial that hasdrained into a production well of the first well pair; operating a secondthermally-actuatedgravity drainage-based process with a second well pair within a secondcommunication zone,wherein the second thermally-actuated gravity drainage-based process includesinjecting amobilizing gaseous material into the second communication zone via aninjection well of thesecond well pair such that hydrocarbon material is mobilized, and producingmobilizedhydrocarbon material that has drained into a production well of the secondwell pair; and after adrive process pre-condition has been established, and while a heated gaseousmaterial is at leastbeing supplied to the first communication zone via an injection well of one ofthe well pairs,applying a pressure differential across the first and second communicationzones; wherein thedrive process pre-condition has been established when: (a) the first andsecond communicationzones have merged; or (b) the viscosity of hydrocarbon material within anintermediate reservoirregion disposed between the first and second communication zones becomessufficiently lowsuch that the hydrocarbon material is capable of being mobilized in responseto the application ofa pressure differential; or (c) the minimum viscosity of hydrocarbon material,within theintermediate reservoir region becomes disposed below about 1200 centipoise; or(d) theminimum temperature within the intermediate reservoir region becomes disposedabove 90degrees Celsius.