Hot plate at Kern River

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Pacific Oil World; ()

OSTI ID:5503703

Rintoul, B

After more than 2 years of preparation, the first field test of the hot plate heavy oil recovery method is under way in the Kern River oil field in California. If the experimental technique proves successful, it could have significant implications for the production of heavy oil. The method was conceived as a means of making it possible to recover more oil in less time from fields like Kern River that contain the hard-to-produce heavy crude. Cornell Heavy Oil Process Incorporated began injecting hot water to clean out and test the system. The project involves a wide diameter vertical shaft with a cavern near the bottom from which 8 horizontal shafts have been drilled. The 8 laterals are near the base of the Kern River oil sand. They will serve as conduits through which steam will be injected to create an effect like putting the oil sand over a hot plate. It is anticipated that the application of heat to the Kern River oil sand will make it possible to recover ca. 75% of the oil in place.

• OSTI ID: 5503703
• Journal Information: Pacific Oil World; (), Journal Name: Pacific Oil World; () Vol. 75:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CALIFORNIA
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FEDERAL REGION IX
FIELD TESTS
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
MINE SHAFTS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SANDS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
SHAFT EXCAVATIONS
STEAM INJECTION
TESTING
THERMAL RECOVERY
USA
VISCOSITY
WELL DRILLING
WELLS