Experience of Yarega field development by applying the thermal method from the surface
Thermal mining technology has been applied for Yarega field development for more than 40 years. The field includes three structures, namely, Yarega, Lyael and Vezhavozh. Only Yarega area is in commercial development. Part of Yarega area, Lyael and Vezhavozh areas, are located far from the existing mining facilities, that’s why their thermal mining development requires the construction of new production mining facilities (shafts, mines, system of surface and underground structures), which is associated with high capital costs and long period of construction. That’s why new technologies development applied for formations stimulation from the surface are urgent for the fields’ development where there are no mining facilities. The article analyzes the results of experiments that were carried out to test steam-thermal stimulation of Yarega field from the surface. Based on the results of the analysis, new effective technologies are proposed to develop deposits of heavy oil and bitumen. The results of the analysis given in the article can be used while developing heavy oil and bitumen fields.