The ExxonMobil-patented technology provides more effective regulation and distribution of steam in long horizontal wells for in-situ oil sands production. The technology reduces the number of wells needed, lowers operating costs by reducing steam consumption and improves overall recovery from the field.

The technology can be used in cyclic steam stimulation (CSS), steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) and steam flood (SF) heavy oil production projects. The technology was developed by Imperial Oil Limited, an ExxonMobil Canadian affiliate, and applied at the Imperial Cold Lake oil sands project.

We have demonstrated that our technology can improve the economics and the environmental performance of oil sands projects. This is one of several significant technologies we have developed over the past five decades for improving oil sands production.

—Sara Ortwein, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company president

The steam injection technology (embodied in United States patent 6,158,510 and Canadian patent 2,219,513) has two key components:

• An externally mounted screen section that enables excellent contact between the well and the reservoir; and

• One or more small flow orifices beneath the screen section that creates the desired level of flow restriction between the inside of the pipe and the reservoir.

The technology enables control of steam into the formation over the entire length of the horizontal well. For SAGD applications, this technology can be used on both injector and producer wells to manage steam distribution and oil production from the reservoir.

This robust technology has proven itself in oil sands applications in Canada by increasing the efficiency of the injected steam and improving ultimate recovery, which translates into lower CO₂ emissions per barrel of oil produced. We have seen CO₂ reductions of up to 10 percent compared to traditional vertical CSS completions.

—Eddie Lui, Imperial Oil Resources vice-president, oil sands development and research