Dual Mobilizing Agents In Basal Planer Gravity Drainage

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for producing hydrocarbons from reservoirs. A provided method includes drilling a first horizontal well substantially proximate to a base of a reservoir and drilling a second horizontal well at a horizontal offset from the first horizontal well. Fluid communication is established between the first horizontal well and the second horizontal well through cyclic production processes. A vertical mobilizing agent is injected into the reservoir and a lateral mobilizing agent is imposed on the reservoir. Fluids are produced from the first horizontal well.

1 . A method for harvesting resources in a reservoir, comprising:
 drilling a first horizontal well substantially proximate to a base of a reservoir;   drilling a second horizontal well at a horizontal offset from the first horizontal well,   establishing fluid communication between the first horizontal well and the second horizontal well through a cyclic production process;   injecting a vertical mobilizing agent into the reservoir;   using a lateral mobilizing agent in the reservoir; and   producing fluids from the first horizontal well.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal offset is between about 50 and 200 metres. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second horizontal well is greater than about three metres shallower than the first well. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the lateral mobilizing agent comprises flowing an electric current through the reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising injecting an electrically conductive, non vaporizing fluid into the reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the lateral mobilizing agent comprises injecting hot water into the reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the lateral mobilizing agent comprises injecting a liquid hydrocarbon solvent into the reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , comprising heating the liquid hydrocarbon solvent before injection. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , comprising injecting hot water, steam, or both, in combination with the liquid hydrocarbon solvent. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising injecting wet steam into the reservoir. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising establishing fluid communication between the first horizontal well and the second horizontal well by creating solvent fingers using cyclic solvent injection and production or using a continuous solvent injection. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing fluid communication is performed by cyclic steam stimulation, cyclic solvent stimulation, or both. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein injecting the vertical mobilizing agent comprises injecting steam vapour, a light hydrocarbon solvent, or both into the second horizontal well. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a non-condensable gas is injected with the vertical mobilizing agent. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising changing the lateral mobilizing agents, or the vertical mobilizing agent, or both over time. 
     
     
         16 . A system for harvesting resources in a reservoir, comprising:
 a first horizontal well substantially proximate to the base of the reservoir;   a second horizontal well at a horizontal offset from the first horizontal well, wherein the second horizontal well is vertically offset from the first horizontal well;   a cyclic production system configured to establish fluid communication between the wells; and   a continuous injection and production system configured to:   inject a vertical mobilizing fluid into the reservoir;   use a lateral mobilizing agent in the reservoir; and   produce a fluid from the first horizontal well.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , comprising a steam generation system configured to provide steam for injection. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , comprising a separation system configured to separate a hydrocarbon stream from a produced fluid. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the vertical mobilizing agent comprises steam, solvents, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , comprising an electrical system configured to flow an electrical current through the reservoir. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the electrical system is configured to flow a current between the first horizontal well and the second horizontal well. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the lateral mobilizing agent comprises hot water, solvent, electric current, or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . A method for producing hydrocarbons, comprising:
 producing fluids from a plurality of production wells in a reservoir;   imposing a lateral mobilizing agent on the reservoir from a plurality of injection wells, wherein:
 each of the plurality of injection wells is adjacent to one of the plurality of production wells; 
 each of the plurality of injection wells is laterally offset from each of the adjacent production wells; and 
 fluid communication has been established between an injection well and an adjacent production well using a cyclic production process; 
 heating a vertical mobilizing agent using heat transferred from the lateral mobilizing agent; and 
 separating a hydrocarbon stream from the fluids produced from the plurality of production wells. 
   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein each of the plurality of injection wells is drilled at a shallower level than each of the adjacent production wells. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the lateral offset is between about 50 and 200 metres, and each of the plurality of injection wells is at least about three metres higher than a neighbouring production well. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , comprising passing an electric current between the plurality of injection wells and the plurality of production wells.