The Court Bakken heavy oil reservoir (17 °API) in Saskatchewan has been under successful water flooding for many years. Laboratory studies have indicated that caustic flooding can enhance heavy oil recovery significantly after water flooding. This paper describes design and implementation of the first caustic flooding pilot in a heavy oil reservoir of this viscosity range in the Western Canadian basin. It reviews results of laboratory studies and a single well test. It also discusses challenges experienced at Court during the early piloting phase.
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