In the Cold Lake region, our Primrose operations currently produce bitumen from the Clearwater reservoir using the cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) process into facilities with approximately 140,000 bbl/d of production capacity. CSS uses a single well bore to inject and produce steam. This technology has been historically applied to reservoirs that have barriers to vertical flow. The production peaks and troughs at Primrose are a reflection of the cyclic steam process – the peaks are associated with production cycles from newer, less mature wells and the troughs are associated with production cycles from the more mature areas in the field.  

Subsequent to several cycles of CSS production, the Clearwater reservoir is well structured for the steam flood follow-up process. Steam flood utilizes existing production wells as low pressure steam injection sites, with existing producing wells pumping heavy crude oil to the surface, similar to SAGD. The Company deploys this technology throughout its mature CSS wells at the Company’s Primrose operations. 

The Company is currently piloting a solvent assisted steam flood pilot in the Primrose Steam flood area and began solvent injection in late 2021 with plans to continue the pilot for approximately two years.

Within the Athabasca deposits of the Kirby and Jackfish operations, our primary target is the McMurray reservoir and Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) is the recovery process of choice. SAGD uses two well bores, one for continuous steaming and the other for continuous production. The Company’s current total facility capacity is 200,000 bbl/d, where economies of scale allow Canadian Natural to drive lower operating costs and top tier capital efficiencies.  

Kirby

The Kirby project is located approximately 85 km northeast of Lac La Biche and comprises of Kirby South and Kirby North central processing facilities with total productive capacity of approximately 80,000 bbl/d.  

Canadian Natural commenced steam injection at the Kirby South Phase 1 project in September 2013, the first project the Company undertook in the Athabasca Oil Sands area. The project targets the McMurray reservoir and uses SAGD technology for the recovery of bitumen from the long life low decline in situ oil sands resources.     

In late 2017, the Company reinitiated its 40,000 bbl/d Kirby North project for construction and drilling and achieved first oil in Q2/19.  

Jackfish

In mid 2019, Canadian Natural acquired the Jackfish thermal in situ oil assets, adding to the Company’s long life low decline asset base. The Company’s teams worked together to leverage technology, operating and technical expertise to maximize synergies between the existing Kirby operations and acquired thermal oil sands asset. The Company’s Jackfish SAGD assets include 3 central processing facilities with a combined productive capacity of 120,000 bbl/d.

In 2022, the Company further consolidated the development opportunities of the Jackfish and Kirby assets with the purchase of the remaining 50% of the Pike assets with targeted future pad developments.  

Canadian Natural is an industry leader, successfully implementing one of the first Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) programs in Canada at our Wolf Lake property. SAGD wells are drilled in pairs and use continuous steam injection to mobilize bitumen.

As the figure illustrates, steam is injected into the upper well mobilizing bitumen above it which then drains down to the lower production well due to gravity. The SAGD process allows for a high bitumen recovery factor, typically greater than 50%. SAGD operations require clean, continuous reservoirs and two wells. This process will be the preferred production process for the McMurray formation at Canadian Natural’s Athabasca area fields.