SAGD Well Construction

Best Practices
During the rapid growth of SAGD in Canada operating companies have developed a variety of in-house design and installation
practices to address the challenges of constructing SAGD wells. These practices are generally designed for the specific
reservoir conditions and equipment available to the operating company. Due to the rapid change in technologies offered by
the service companies it is difficult to ensure that the well construction practices in use are the “best” available for a particular
application. In addition, staff turnover in the office and on the rigs makes it difficult to ensure that the established practices
are properly implemented and kept up to date.

Project Objective:
The objectives for the Joint Industry Project are: Project Tasks:
• Complete critical review of current SAGD well construction practices The project addresses the following aspects
based on broad industry input and independent technical evaluations of well construction:
• Establish a set of Best Practices for selected Drilling & Completion • Casing/Liner
activities specific to SAGD wells that can have significant impacts on – Handling and inspection
wellbore integrity – Make-up and field repair
• Enhance awareness among office and field staff of the importance of – Running/Installation
following established procedures • Centralization
• Identify current technological limitations and areas where – Centralizer type
improvements are warranted – Spacing
• Hole Cleaning
Project Approach: • Cementing
The project consists of a variety of data collection and analysis tasks to • Well Integrity
document current practices and identify the strengths and weaknesses of – Cement quality
each. This effort includes the following tasks: – Casing Leaks/Deformations
• Review design approaches
• Observe field practices
• Review problems wells
• Identify practices that avoid problems

C-FER Cam Matthews [E] c.matthews@cfertech.com www.cfertech.com

Technologies Director
New Technology Ventures
[T] 780.450.8989 x 252
[F] 780.450.3700

Printed in Canada 2011