High Performance Slotted Liners Technology Information Session

Technology Background

SAGD is the workhorse technology for in situ oil sands production. It involves a pair of horizontal wells. To avoid plugging of the wells by sand, thousands of tiny slots are machined into each well. These slots allow fluids to pass through but filter out sand particles. Presently, these slots are machined using high-speed circular saws. Edmonton based Wellsco Slotting has developed a new patented process based on an abrasive water jet cutting assembly. The benefits of the new process include:

• Less steel is removed for the same slot opening, resulting in a stronger slotted pipe. This feature would allow SAGD producers to drill longer horizontal wells with slotted liners, from approximately 900 m to over 1,200 m. The value for the SAGD producer is more cost-effective field development and reduced environmental impact.
• Slots are machined in one operation. When using circular saws, 3 machines are required. The new simpler technology leads to higher quality.
• The design of slot patterns (length, number, distribution) is no longer dictated by the arrangement of saw spindles. New non-linear patterns could be designed that would maximize open area, flow and preserve strength characteristics.

This information session will introduce the new technology and products opportunity from Wellsco Slotting.

Who Should Attend:

• Oil sands completions engineers and personnel,
• Technology specialists
• Operations managers,
• Drilling engineers

Wellsco is seeking early adopters with trial sites that are willing to share feedback on product performance.