Heavy-Oil Reservoirs - Oilfield Review Autumn 2002 (2.29 MB PDF)

Vast quantities of heavy oil are trapped in shallow, accessible reservoirs, but are difficult to extract. Producers involved in heavy-oil recovery face special challenges in producing the high-viscosity crudes, but are finding some success by applying both traditional oilfield methods and new technologies invented for the heavy-oil sector. This article reviews some of the properties of heavy oil and describes drilling, logging, completion and stimulation techniques that help make heavy-oil reservoirs profitable assets.

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