Enhanced Recovery Methods for Heavy Oil and Tar Sands

Recent price increases continue to stress the need for alternative resources. With conventional production steadily declining, advances in enhanced recovery will be required so that more drillers can extend their oil production and make reserves last longer. Thanks to significant drilling technology breakthroughs, wells are digging deeper for more unconventional resources, in particular heavy oil. A practical guide on heavy oil-related recovery methods is essential for drillers and producers alike. To feed this demand, James Speight, a well-respected professor and author, provides a must-read for drillers, domestic and abroad, that are involved in production enhancement. Covering the spectrum, Speight explains the current methods of recovery for heavy oil and tar sand bitumen technology, broken down by thermal and non-thermal methods. He provides complete coverage on important topics such as geology and origin of heavy oil, heavy oil properties, introductory methods on primary, secondary and tertiary method recovery and how-to upgrade and process heavy oil. Rounded out with a glossary of key terminology, any engineer and oil personnel that works with heavy oil and tar sand bitumen will greatly benefit from this much-needed text.

About the Author: James G. Speight, PhD, DSc, is a senior fuel consultant as well as a visiting professor at the University of Trinidad and Tobago and an adjunct professor of chemical and fuels engineering at the University of Utah. He is recognized internationally as an expert in the characterization, properties, recovery, and processing of conventional oil, heavy oil, tar sand bitumen and synthetic fuels as well as refining conventional petroleum, heavy oil and tar sand bitumen. Dr. Speight has more than 40 years of experience in the area. He has authored and edited more than 35 books related to fossil fuel processing and environmental issues. He has earned numerous awards and honors including the Diploma of Honor in 1995 from the National Petroleum Engineering Society and the Einstein Medal from the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2001 in recognition of outstanding contributions and service in the field of geologic sciences.