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Updated June 2020

The number of producing bitumen wells has been increasing along with in situ crude bitumen production. Although the number of producing bitumen wells in Alberta has increased from 3088 wells in 1995 to 11 847 wells in 2019, these figures have been on a downward trend since 2014 (see Figure S3.4).

Production by Recovery Method

For in situ production in 2019,

  • 75 per cent used steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD),
  • 14 per cent used cyclic steam stimulation (CSS), and
  • 11 per cent used primary recovery methods, which includes enhanced recovery and limited amounts of conventional bitumen production.

Compared to 2018 levels of production, in 2019,

  • SAGD production decreased by 1 per cent to 183.1 thousand cubic metres per day (103 m3/d) or 1152.2 thousand barrels per day (103 bbl/d),
  • CSS production increased by 2 per cent to 35.2 103 m3/d (221.5 103 bbl/d), and
  • primary production fell by 9 per cent to 27.5 103 m3/d (173.1 103 bbl/d).

Figure S3.5 shows in situ bitumen production by recovery method.

Well Productivity

Average annual productivity of all in situ bitumen wells rose 5 per cent in 2019, averaging 20.7 103 m3/d (see Figure S3.6). More higher-productivity SAGD wells and fewer lower-productivity CSS and primary wells drove the increase in overall in situ productivity in 2019 compared with 2018. SAGD wells are typically larger in scale and have a more consistent production compared with CSS or primary wells.

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