Heavy Oil Exploitation

Heavy crude oils have a unique chemical nature that creates many technical challenges. In this new book, four heavy oil and bitumen experts deliver a comprehensive look at the complexities of this alternative petroleum resource. With its high viscosity and complex hydrocarbon chemistry, heavy oil requires technical personnel to use innovative approaches to enable it to flow in a porous formation and also in the production circuit and finally to treat and convert it into valuable products. While plentiful deposits exist throughout the world, this heavy hydrocarbon requires upgrades in skill and process to extract, transport, and refine. KEY FEATURES: Characteristics of heavy oil Traditional and newest recovery methods Construction and completion of a heavy oil well A discussion of gas lifting, pumping systems, and sand management Unique transportation and processing requirements Overview of upgrading and refining requirements