THERMAL CONDITIONING OF FISHBONES

摘要

The present disclosure relates to a particularly effective well configuration that can be used for SAGD and other steam based oil recovery methods. Fishbone multilateral wells are combined with SAGD, effectively expanding steam coverage, but the fishbones are preheated to mitigate plugging problems, with e.g., resistive heating, EM heating or chemical heating.

主权项

1) A method steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) production of hydrocarbons, comprising:
a) providing a plurality of horizontal production wells at a first depth at or near a bottom of a hydrocarbon play; b) providing a plurality of horizontal injection wells, each injection well laterally spaced at a distance D from an adjacent production well; c) providing a plurality of lateral wells originating from at least some of said horizontal production wells or horizontal injection wells or both, wherein said plurality of lateral wells cover at least 90% of said distance D; d) preheating a reservoir by injecting steam into all wells to establish fluid communication between said injection wells and said production wells; e) preheating said plurality of lateral wells using electromagnetic heating, resistive heating, or chemical heating; f) continuing steam injection in said injection wells only, and simultaneously producing mobilized heavy oil from said production wells.