Distillation Effects in Heavy Oil Recovery Under Steam Injection With Hydrocarbon Additives

摘要

Recent developments such as Liquid Addition to Steam for Enhancing Recovery (LASER) of bitumen during cyclic steam injection (SPE 79011) indicate increased production with the use of hydrocarbon (C5+) as a steam additive. This was attributed to viscosity reduction of bitumen when in contact with the hydrocarbon additive. However, our study indicates that steam distillation - in addition to viscosity reduction - plays an important role in enhancing heavy oil recovery.