Development of communication paths within a tar sand bed

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Adv. Chem. Ser.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7214241

Redford, D A ^[1]; Cotsworth, P F

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1. Alberta Research Council, Edmonton

The in situ methods for recovering bitumen from the Athabasca tar sands depend upon successful development of a useable communication path. The major problem is blockage of the path caused by slumping of the tar sand or cooling of the hot unemulsified bitumen when it enters a cold region. Blockage is particularly acute in the early stages of path development. There are several in situ recovery methods, as well as two new approaches based on low-temperature emulsification. Certain agents promote emulsification at formation temperature (40/sup 0/F). The other approach uses chemical reagents which react with the bitumen in the formation, forming water-soluble surfactants. Subsequent injection of water results in their ready displacement, thus enlarging the path and alleviating blockage.

• OSTI ID: 7214241
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Adv. Chem. Ser.; (United States) Journal Volume: 151
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ATHABASCA DEPOSIT
BITUMENS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BOREHOLE LINKING
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMMINUTION
DISPERSIONS
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLS
EMULSIFICATION
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
IN-SITU PROCESSING
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
MIXTURES
OIL SAND DEPOSITS
OIL SANDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
PROCESSING
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
STEAM INJECTION
SUBTERRENE PENETRATORS
SURFACTANTS
TAR