ADVANCED CONTROL OF STEAM INJECTION NETWORK

Systems and methods are provided for controlling and optimizing the operation of a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) production facility for recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-containing reservoir. One aspect provides a system including a steam header controller determining a first set of outputs to control the distribution of steam from the plant to the steam pad, and one or more steam pad controllers to determine a second set of outputs for controlling the distribution of steam to the one or more well pairs within the steam pad. Each of these controllers can be implemented as an advanced process control (APC) controller. The APC controllers receive target values and a prioritization of the steam pads and well pairs, and allocate steam to the steam pads and the well pairs based at least in part on their prioritization and relative to their respective target values while maintaining process constraints.