Caprock integrity risks need to be assessed in the planning and operation of thermal recovery projects such as cyclic steam stimulation (CSS), steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), steam flooding and in-situ combustion. Over the past few decades in Alberta a number of steam release incidents have occurred where the primary mechanism involves the migration of steam or fluids along existing discontinuities in the caprock, or along, or adjacent to wellbores that penetrate it. An integrated risk management workflow, incorporating geological, geophysical, geomechanical, reservoir and well construction data, has been developed by Advanced Geotechnology to evaluate the potential for various caprock leakage mechanisms, and to aid in the selection of operating procedures and monitoring techniques to mitigate these risks. To see Pat McLellan’s recent presentation “Caprock Integrity: What you Need to Know for Thermal Recovery Projects” at a Canadian Heavy Oil Association/Petroleum Society technical meeting in Calgary, please visit the publications section of our website to sign up to download this talk. Contact us at 403.693.7531 if you wish to discuss how our risk evaluation process can assist your project team.
