METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING FLUID COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HORIZONTAL WELLS

A method of starting up a well pair for EOR by establishing fluid communication between the wells is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a fluid based heat delivery system in each well of said well pair, and circulating a heated non-deasphalting start-up fluid in each well at a first temperature. Then, applying a pressure differential between the wells to encourage start-up fluid displacement across an inter well bore region, and controlling a viscosity of the start-up fluid through one or both of temperature and concentration control, to encourage hydraulically sweeping the inter well bore region, and transitioning from displacing the start-up fluid to a working fluid extraction process.