Enhanced recovery methods for heavy oil and tar sands

Recent oil price fluctuations continue to stress the need for more efficient recovery of heavy oil and tar sand bitumen resources. With conventional production steadily declining, advances in enhanced recovery will be required so that oil production can be extended and reservoirs last longer. A practical guide on heavy-oil related recovery methods is essential for all involved in heavy oil production. To feed this demand, James Speight, a well-respected scientist and author, provides a must-read for all scientists, engineers and technologists that are involved in production enhancement. In Enhanced Recovery Methods for Heavy Oil and Tar Sands , Speight provides the current methods of recovery for heavy oil and tar sand bitumen technology, broken down by thermal and non-thermal methods. An engineer, graduate student or professional working with heavy oil, upcoming and current, will greatly benefit from this much-needed text.

Author Notes

About the Author: James G. Speight, PhD, DSc, is a senior fuel consultant as well as a visiting professor at the University of Trinidad and Tobago and an adjunct professor of chemical and fuels engineering at the University of Utah. He is recognized internationally as an expert in the characterization, properties, recovery, and processing of conventional oil, heavy oil, tar sand bitumen and synthetic fuels as well as refining conventional petroleum, heavy oil and tar sand bitumen. Dr. Speight has more than 40 years of experience in the area. He has authored and edited more than 35 books related to fossil fuel processing and environmental issues. He has earned numerous awards and honors including the Diploma of Honor in 1995 from the National Petroleum Engineering Society and the Einstein Medal from the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2001 in recognition of outstanding contributions and service in the field of geologic sciences.

List of Figures	p. ix
List of Tables	p. xi
Preface	p. xiii
Chapter 1 Definitions	p. 1
1.1 History	p. 3
1.2 Petroleum	p. 5
1.3 Heavy Oil	p. 13
1.4 Tar Sand Bitumen	p. 16
1.5 Validity of the Definitions	p. 19
1.6 Conclusions	p. 24
1.7 References	p. 26
Chapter 2 Origin and Occurrence	p. 29
2.1 Origin of Petroleum and Heavy Oil	p. 33
2.1.1 Abiogenic Origin	p. 33
2.1.2 Biogenic Origin	p. 34
2.1.3 Occurrence and Distribution	p. 35
2.2 Reservoirs	p. 39
2.3 Reserves	p. 42
2.3.1 Definitions	p. 42
2.3.2 The Real Numbers	p. 48
2.4 Production	p. 49
2.5 Oil Pricing	p. 51
2.5.1 Oil Price History	p. 52
2.5.2 Pricing Strategies	p. 53
2.5.3 The Role of Heavy Oil in the Future	p. 55
2.6 References	p. 56
Chapter 3 Reservoirs and Reservoir Fluids	p. 59
3.1 Reservoirs	p. 60
3.1.1 Structural Traps	p. 62
3.1.2 Heterogeneity	p. 64
3.2 Classes of Fluids	p. 66
3.3 Evaluation of Reservoir Fluids	p. 69
3.3.1 Sampling Methods	p. 70
3.3.2 Data Acquisition and QA/QC	p. 73
3.4 Physical (Bulk) Composition and Molecular Weight	p. 75
3.4.1 Sampling	p. 76
3.4.2 Asphaltene Separation	p. 76
3.4.3 Fractionation	p. 79
3.4.4 Molecular Weight	p. 82
3.5 Reservoir Evaluation	p. 89
3.6 References	p. 92
Chapter 4 Properties	p. 95
4.1 Physical Properties	p. 97
4.1.1 Sampling	p. 99
4.1.2 Elemental (Ultimate) Analysis	p. 100
4.1.3 Metals Content	p. 101
4.1.4 Density and Specific Gravity	p. 102
4.1.5 Viscosity	p. 104
4.2 Thermal Properties	p. 106
4.2.1 Carbon Residue	p. 106
4.2.2 Specific Heat	p. 107
4.2.3 Heat of Combustion	p. 107
4.2.4 Volatility	p. 108
4.2.5 Liquefaction and Solidification	p. 117
4.2.6 Solubility	p. 118
4.3 Metals Content	p. 120
4.4 References	p. 125
Chapter 5 Exploration and General Methods for Oil Recovery	p. 133
5.1 Exploration	p. 134
5.2 Primary Recovery (Natural) Methods	p. 147
5.3 Secondary Recovery	p. 152
5.4 Enhanced Oil Recovery	p. 162
5.4.1 Thermal Recovery Methods	p. 163
5.4.2 Gas Flood Recovery Methods	p. 168
5.4.3 Chemical Flood Recovery Methods	p. 174
5.5 References	p. 180
Chapter 6 Nonthermal Methods of Recovery	p. 185
6.1 Primary Recovery (Natural) Methods	p. 187
6.2 Secondary Recovery Methods	p. 190
6.2.1 Waterflooding	p. 191
6.2.2 Gas Injection	p. 193
6.2.3 Cold Production	p. 194
6.2.4 Pressure Pulse Technology	p. 198
6.2.5 Solvent Processes	p. 199
6.3 Enhanced Oil Recovery Methods	p. 200
6.3.1 Alkaline Flooding	p. 201
6.3.2 Carbon Dioxide Flooding	p. 203
6.3.3 Cyclic Carbon Dioxide Stimulation	p. 205
6.3.4 Nitrogen Flooding	p. 206
6.3.5 Polymer Flooding	p. 206
6.3.6 Micellar Polymer Flooding	p. 207
6.3.7 Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery	p. 208
6.4 Oil Mining	p. 211
6.5 References	p. 217
Chapter 7 Thermal Methods of Recovery	p. 221
7.1 Hot-Fluid Injection	p. 224
7.2 Steam-Based Methods	p. 227
7.2.1 Steam Drive Injection (Steam Injection)	p. 230
7.2.2 Cyclic Steam Injection	p. 230
7.2.3 Steam Drive	p. 234
7.3 In Situ Combustion Processes	p. 234
7.3.1 Forward Combustion	p. 238
7.3.2 Reverse Combustion	p. 240
7.3.3 The THAI Process	p. 244
7.4 Other Processes	p. 247
7.4.1 Horizontal Well Technology	p. 247
7.4.2 Inert Gas Technology	p. 248
7.4.3 Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD)	p. 249
7.4.4 Hybrid Processes	p. 253
7.5 In Situ Upgrading	p. 254
7.6 References	p. 256
Chapter 8 Upgrading Heavy Oil	p. 261
8.1 Surface Upgrading	p. 263
8.1.1 Thermal Cracking Processes	p. 267
8.1.2 Catalytic Cracking Processes	p. 271
8.1.3 Hydrogen Addition Processes	p. 275
8.1.4 Solvent Processes	p. 277
8.2 In Situ Upgrading	p. 285
8.2.1 Solvent-Based Processes	p. 287
8.2.2 Bulk Thermal Processes	p. 288
8.3 References	p. 292
App A Conversion Factors	p. 295
Glossary	p. 297
Index	p. 335

Available:*

On Order

Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Table of Contents