Chris Walsh discusses how wet areas mapping is changing the way oil and gas companies are doing planning in Alberta. Devon Energy Canada is involved in SAGD bitumen extraction in the oilsands region in NE Alberta. Figuring out where are the watercourses is a major element of Devon Canada's land-use planning of SAGD well installation. Temporary short term well sites are installed on frozen ground. They require flat sites to install these wellsites. Maintenance costs on roads are primarily watercourse related. Well pads (3 heactares typically) and steam generating sites need to be located out of wet areas. Field operations in the winter may not be able to identify small permanent watercourses. Wet areas mapping minimize field mapping challenges.
Chris Walsh is team lead at Devon Energy, Calgary, Alberta. His presentation was part of the Wet Areas Mapping Workshop, Calgary, Alberta, Feb. 11, 2013
