METHOD FOR ACHIEVING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN INJECTION AND PRODUCTION WELLS IN TAR SAND DEPOSITS

摘要

Abstract of the DisclosureA method for achieving communication between aninjection well and a production well in tar sand deposits. Acavity is excavated at a point where the injection well isproximate to the production well. A fluid is injected in theproduction well at a pressure less than fracture pressure tocause the subterranean formation intermediate the productionwell and the cavity to collapse and create a highly permeablezone of unconsolidated tar sands, thus forming a communicationpath between the production well and the injection well. In apreferred embodiment of the invention several injection verticalwells are used in combination with one associated horizontalproduction well. In this embodiment, a hydraulically balancedsystem may be established by selectively shutting-in theinjection wells while maintaining fluid pressure in theproduction well. After the communication paths are created,field production operations may begin. Steam and other fluidmay be injected in the injection wells to encourage gravitydrainage of bitumen toward the production well. Bitumen isproduced to the surface through the production well via anynumber of known artificial lift methods.