RECOVERY OF VISCOUS PETROLEUM FROM ASPHALTIC PETROLEUM CONTAINING FORMATIONS SUCH AS TAR SAND DEPOSITS

摘要

Viscous, asphaltic petroleum may be effectively recovered from subterranean viscous, asphaltic petroleum containing formations such as tar sand deposits by first injecting into the tar sand formation a quantity of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone or furfural or a mixture thereof which precipitates asphaltic material from the bituminous petroleum portion of the formation petroleum. Next, solvent injection is terminated and air is injected into the formation, and the formation is ignited by heating or other means to initiate in situ combustion within the petroleum formation utilizing the precipitated asphaltic materials for fuel for the in situ combustion reaction. Reaction temperature higher than normal in situ combustion temperatures are produced, facilitating thermal cracking and in situ hydrogenation to up grade the produced crude within the tar sand reservoir.