SAGD threat turned into opportunity

Upping MOP in a thermal scheme

Young's modulus spatial variationIf there are areas in a scheme that demand lower injection pressures, it stands to reason that there are likely areas where a higher steaming pressure is justified.

That's how one operator viewed the MOP problem. She conducted extensive research and found an area of her scheme that has outstanding cap rock integrity. Based on her findings, she proposed to increase MOP by 10% in that area. You can get her application documents within moments through our self serve secure checkout.

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AER decisions after recent flow to surface events have defined areas where lower steaming pressure is required. Some of those areas have severe restrictions on maximum operating pressure (MOP) of the scheme. In some areas, steam can only be injected at hydrostatic pressure.

But it seems likely that some areas might stand a higher steaming pressure. Most operators believe that more steam injection at a higher pressure will bring better bitumen recovery.

This application includes one of the most interesting treatment of caprock integrity ever seen in the literature. It includes over 75 seismic and other geoscientific figures complete with descriptions of the scientific framework for the analyses.

Included are many geophysical analyses including structure, isochron, natural fracturing, temperature considerations and attribute analysis. For example, the spatial variation of Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus (as featured here).

The operator considered many facets of caprock integrity including channels incised into the caprock, salt dissolution and existing faulting.

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Tags: Thermal, Heavy Oil

Granger Low  20 Sep 2016



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This page last updated 27 February 2026.
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