Geoscience of Heavy Oil Reservoirs Course

Applications to SAGD Exploration, Development and Production

Michael Webb

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This course covers petroleum and sedimentary geology principles applied to heavy oil reservoirs, emphasizing how geoscience data and interpretations influence reservoir heterogeneity, recovery methods, and hydrocarbon production. Learners will explore definitions, major occurrences of heavy oil, and various recovery methods, with a focus on SAGD thermal recovery in Alberta's Athabasca region. The course combines theoretical insights with practical examples and field-based case studies drawn from the instructor's extensive industry experience. It also highlights the importance of sedimentary environments and rock properties to understanding reservoir behavior. Overall, the course prepares participants to make better business decisions by appreciating the critical role of geology in heavy oil projects.Read more...

Who Should Take This Course
• Junior to senior engineers
• Geoscientists interested in heavy oil
• Integrated team members in oil projects

What You Will Learn
• Heavy oil types and definitions
• Common recovery methods like SAGD
• Use of geoscience datasets for reservoirs
• Influence of sedimentary environments on reservoirs

Why This Course Works
• Gain insights from real-world case studies
• Improve communication across technical teams
• Enhance understanding of reservoir heterogeneity
• Make informed business and operational decisions

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Course contents

    Chapter 2 - Definition, Origin, and Occurrences of Heavy Oil

    02-01 - Definition and Origin of Heavy Oil (14 min.)

    02-02 - Origins of Heavy Oil (17 min.)

    02-03 - Unconsolidated Nature of the Oil Sands (11 min.) Quiz

    Chapter 3 - Recovery Methods for Heavy Oil

    03-01 - Mining and Cold-Flow Methods (14 min.)

    03-02 - Cold Flow Field Examples (17 min.)

    03-03 - Heavy Oil Production Technologies - CHOPS (9 min.)

    03-04 - Heavy Oil Production Technologies - Solvents (25 min.)

    03-05 - Thermal Recovery Methods (Non-SAGD) (20 min.)

    03-06 - Heavy Oil Production Technologies - Steam Flood (9 min.)

    03-07 - Heavy Oil Production Technologies - CSS (26 min.)

    03-08 - SAGD Thermal Recovery Method (25 min.)

    03-09 - SAGD Thermal Recovery Method - continued (15 min.)

    03-10 - Variations of SAGD (23 min.) Quiz

    Chapter 4 - Distribution of Heavy Oil and Projects

    04-01 - Global Occurrences of Heavy Oil and Projects (12 min.)

    04-02 - Heavy Oil Regions of China (13 min.)

    04-03 - Heavy Oil Regions of Venezuela (12 min.)

    04-04 - Heavy Oil Regions of North America (13 min.)

    04-05 - Heavy Oil Regions of Alberta - Overview (13 min.)

    04-06 - Heavy Oil Regions of Alberta - Peace River (20 min.)

    04-07 - Heavy Oil Regions of Alberta -Cold Lake (16 min.)

    04-08 - Heavy Oil Regions of Alberta -Athabasca (20 min.)

    04-09 - Production Trends in Heavy Oil (12 min.) Quiz

    Chapter 5 - Sandstone Heavy Oil Reservoirs and their Environments of Deposition

    05-01 - Shoreface and Deltaic Reservoirs (22 min.)

    05-02 - Fluvial and other Channelized Reservoirs (17 min.)

    05-03 - Shoreface Reservoir Implications (10 min.)

    05-04 - Deltaic Deposits (8 min.)

    05-05 - Deltaic Deposits In Core & Outcrop (15 min.)

    05-06 - Deltaic Sandstones - Reservoir Implications (10 min.)

    05-07 - Fluvial and other Channelized Reservoirs (15 min.)

    05-08 - Braided Rivers (9 min.)

    05-09 - Meandering Rivers (30 min.)

    05-10 - Incised Valleys (12 min.)

    05-11 - Fluvial Sandstones In Core and Outcrop (19 min.)

    05-12 - Fluvial Sandstones : Reservior Implications (24 min.)

    05-13 - Matching Recovery Process to Reservoir Type (25 min.) Quiz

    Chapter 6 - Heavy Oil Geology Applied to Field Exploration

    06-01 - Petroleum System Elements and Exploration Data Collection (25 min.)

    06-02 - Exploration with focus on Reservoir Elements (12 min.)

    06-03 - Exploration With Focus On Caprock Elements (28 min.)

    06-04 - Exploration With Focus on Water Source and Disposal Elements (25 min.) Quiz

    Chapter 7 - Heavy Oil Geology Applied to Field Development

    07-01 - Data Collection for Field Development (15 min.)

    07-02 - Caprock Integrity Studies (24 min.)

    07-03 - Reservoir Heterogeneity (27 min.)

    07-04 - Reservoir Fluid Impairments (22 min.)

    07-05 - Fluid Impairments (8 min.)

    07-06 - Reservoir Characterization and Forecasting (23 min.)

    07-07 - Pad and Horzontal Well Planning (28 min.) Quiz

    Chapter 8 - Heavy Oil Geology Applied to Field Production

    08-01 - Sand Control (18 min.)

    08-02 - Caprock Monitoring (9 min.)

    08-03 - Production Monitoring – Wells and Post-steam Cores (20 min.)

    08-04 - Production Monitoring – Seismic (13 min.)

    08-05 - SAGD Optimization (FCDs, Infills, NCG Co-injection) (24 min.)

    08-06 - SAGD Production - NCG-CO Injection (17 min.) Quiz

    Chapter 9 - Wrap-Up Discussion

    09-01 - Course Conclusion (18 min.)