The Steepbank crosswell seismic project: Reservoir definition and evaluation of steamflood technology in Alberta tar sands

Two crosswell seismic surveys were conducted at Chevron Canada’s Oil Sand Lease 49 (Steepbank) located about 60 km northeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta. This is the site of the Hasdrive commercial pilot project in which steam is circulated through a horizontal well in order to preheat the tar sand prior to conventional steam injection. The objective of the crosswell survey was to define the geology and to monitor the movement of the injected steam as part of the Hasdrive evaluation. The first survey was conducted 25 September–6 October 1991, just prior to steam injection. The second was acquired 7–14 January 1992, after 72 days of continuous steam injection.