Application of autonomous inflow control valve for enhanced bitumen recovery by steam assisted gravity drainage

Abstract

Production of bitumen through the thermal process, SAGD, is of interest since the warmed bitumen can be easily produced by aid of gravity towards the horizontal production wells. This approach beside its advantages has its own draw-back.

One of these disadvantages is the breakthrough of steam and gas from the reservoir into the production well. ICDs are the simplest form of an inflow control device to delay the inflow of the unwanted gas. These devices are quite cheap but when it comes to the functionality, they show a poor performance in chocking the gas inflow.

autonomous inflow control valves (acronymized as AICV), are the modern inflow controllers which can closely measure the gas and water content of an inflow stream and partially or fully open and close the valve to mitigate the trace of water and gas in the produced bitumen flow.

In this thesis, basic theory around the thermal production of the bitumen is provided as well as the comparison of capability of these two inflow control technologies from different perspectives.