14 "Degradation Mechanisms in Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) Wells", A.I. (Sandy) Williamson, NACE Northern Area Conference, February 2006, Calgary, Alberta
ABSTRACT
Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) is an important method for recovering bitumen from the oilsands formations where the depth of overburden prohibits conventional oilsands mining techniques. Surface mining is only feasible in recovering 20% of the oilsands deposits, leaving methods such as SAGD as the best known alternative for recovering the potential 80% of the remaining deposits. As the number of projects utilizing SAGD grows, it is important to understand how the materials used in these wells may be affected by the process conditions. This paper attempts to outline the major degradation mechanisms possible in the downhole SAGD environments.