Pilot projects on heavy oil production in the Republic of Tatarstan proved the efficiency of Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) and Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS) technologies for horizontal wells. This paper discusses ways of improving CSS technology and search for alternative methods of extra-viscous and heavy oil production from thin net pay zones. Various configurations of vertical wells and a single horizontal well have been considered. It has been shown that using vertical wells in combination with a horizontal well can provide a two-fold increase in ultimate oil recovery compared to CSS method. The best configuration has been identified to provide maximum recovery of heavy oil from thin pay zones. Pilot test program has been developed to test the suggested well configuration in the Ashalchy pilot area.
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