Method for hydrocarbon recovery using sagd and infill wells with rf heating

Abstract

A method for hydrocarbon resource recovery in a subterranean formation may include forming spaced apart injector/producer well pairs in the subterranean formation, with each well pair including a laterally extending producer well and a laterally extending injector well spaced thereabove. The method may also include forming laterally extending infill wells in the subterranean formation, with each infill well being located between respective adjacent injector/producer well pairs. The method may also include recovering hydrocarbon resources from the producer wells based upon Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) via the injector/producer well pairs, and recovering hydrocarbon resources from the infill wells based upon RF heating regions of the subterranean formation surrounding the respective infill wells.

1 . A method for hydrocarbon resource recovery in a subterranean formation comprising:
 forming a plurality of spaced apart injector/producer well pairs in the subterranean formation, each injector/producer well pair comprising a laterally extending producer well and a laterally extending injector well spaced thereabove;   forming a plurality of laterally extending infill wells in the subterranean formation, each infill well being located between respective adjacent injector/producer well pairs; and   recovering hydrocarbon resources from the producer wells based upon Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) via the injector/producer well pairs; and   recovering hydrocarbon resources from the infill wells based upon RF heating regions of the subterranean formation surrounding the respective infill wells.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein recovering hydrocarbon resources from the producer wells based upon SAGD creates a respective steam chamber associated with each injector/producer well pair; and wherein recovering hydrocarbon resources from the infill wells based upon RF heating comprises creating hydraulic communication between each pair of adjacent steam chambers and an associated infill well therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein recovering hydrocarbon resources from the infill wells based upon RF heating further comprises using SAGD to provide pressure support in the regions of the subterranean formation surrounding the infill wells. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the RF heating is delivered from the infill wells. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising positioning at least one respective RF antenna within each of the infill wells; and wherein RF heating comprises supplying RF energy to the RF antennas. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein each infill well is positioned midway between respective adjacent injector/producer well pairs. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein each infill well is positioned below a level of respective adjacent injector wells. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising using steamflood drive after using SAGD to recover further hydrocarbon resources. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the subterranean formation comprises an oil sand formation. 
     
     
         10 . A method for hydrocarbon resource recovery in a subterranean formation comprising a plurality of spaced apart injector/producer well pairs, each comprising a laterally extending producer well and a laterally extending injector well spaced thereabove; and a plurality of laterally extending infill wells, each being located between respective adjacent injector/producer well pairs, the method comprising:
 recovering hydrocarbon resources from the producer wells based upon Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) via the injector/producer well pairs; and   recovering hydrocarbon resources from the infill wells based upon RF heating regions surrounding the respective infill wells.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein recovering hydrocarbon resources from the producer wells based upon SAGD creates a respective steam chamber associated with each injector/producer well pair; and wherein recovering hydrocarbon resources from the infill wells based upon RF heating comprises creating hydraulic communication between each pair of adjacent steam chambers and an associated infill well therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein recovering hydrocarbon resources from the infill wells based upon RF heating further comprises using SAGD to provide pressure support in the regions of the subterranean formation surrounding the infill wells. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the RF heating is delivered from the infill wells. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10  further comprising positioning at least one respective RF antenna within each of the infill wells; and wherein RF heating comprises supplying RF energy to the RF antennas. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein each infill well is positioned midway between respective adjacent injector/producer well pairs and below a level of respective adjacent injector wells. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10  further comprising using steamflood drive after using SAGD to recover further hydrocarbon resources. 
     
     
         17 . A method for hydrocarbon resource recovery in a subterranean formation comprising a plurality of spaced apart injector/producer well pairs, each comprising a laterally extending producer well and a laterally extending injector well spaced thereabove; and a plurality of laterally extending infill wells, each being located between respective adjacent injector/producer well pairs, the method comprising:
 recovering hydrocarbon resources from the producer wells based upon Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) via the injector/producer well pairs to create a respective steam chamber associated with each injector/producer well pair; and   recovering hydrocarbon resources from the infill wells based upon RF heating from each infill well to create hydraulic communication between each pair of adjacent steam chambers and an associated infill well therebetween.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein recovering hydrocarbon resources from the infill wells based upon RF heating further comprises using SAGD to provide pressure support in the regions of the subterranean formation surrounding the infill wells. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17  further comprising positioning at least one respective RF antenna within each of the infill wells; and wherein RF heating comprises supplying RF energy to the RF antennas. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein each infill well is positioned midway between respective adjacent injector/producer well pairs and below a level of respective adjacent injector wells. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 17  further comprising using steamflood drive after using SAGD to recover further hydrocarbon resources.