The reservoir as reactor

The use of more advance oil recovery process to prevent the oil reserves to deplete rapidly are discussed. Cold production achieves 5-10%, cyclic steam stimulation (CCS) manages 15-25% and steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) recovers around 40% of the oil. Some 90% of the oil sands are mined, which recovers more than 90% of the bitumen. The Bath improved oil recovery group have started work to integrate horizontal well technology with the ISC process. The THAI pilot has achieved considerable early stage success, with sustained high combustion temperatures of 600-700°C, and producing 1000 bbl of bitumen. The in-situ combustion group at the University of Calgary have tried surrounding a vertical producer well with catalyst and using in-situ combustion to create the right conditions to upgrade heavy crude in place. THAI-CAPRI reduces the produced oil viscosity to around 20-50 cp. The increase in API will allow the oil to be pipelined without the need for an expensive diluent.