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Air Secret Ingredient in new Heavy-Oil Extraction Method
A "fire in the ground" method of extracting heavy oil could change the way deep deposits are tapped, and alter the face of in situ production around the world.
And the secret ingredient is ... air.
Petrobank, a medium-sized Alberta oil firm, is testing a patented method at its Whitesands pilot plant just west of Conklin, a settlement atop the rich oilsands and heavy oil zone which stretches south from Fort McMurray through Lloydminster.
Compressed air is pumped to an oil-bearing layer, which at Whitesands is about 400 metres deep. At the same time, almost one kilometre away, horizontal production wells are drilled and aimed toward the air injection bore holes.
Steel casing with tiny slots is inserted in the horizontal drill holes, and hooked up to wellheads. After a bit of steam is sent down the air lines to melt the tar-like oil, the steam is shut off.
Read the full article here.
A "fire in the ground" method of extracting heavy oil could change the way deep deposits are tapped, and alter the face of in situ production around the world.
And the secret ingredient is ... air.
Petrobank, a medium-sized Alberta oil firm, is testing a patented method at its Whitesands pilot plant just west of Conklin, a settlement atop the rich oilsands and heavy oil zone which stretches south from Fort McMurray through Lloydminster.
Compressed air is pumped to an oil-bearing layer, which at Whitesands is about 400 metres deep. At the same time, almost one kilometre away, horizontal production wells are drilled and aimed toward the air injection bore holes.
Steel casing with tiny slots is inserted in the horizontal drill holes, and hooked up to wellheads. After a bit of steam is sent down the air lines to melt the tar-like oil, the steam is shut off.
Read the full article here.