Resource-efficient technology for heavy oil and bitumen recovery with low water cut.
An oil recovery technology using binary mixtures (BMs) is compared with the leading technologies currently being used around the world: hydraulic fracturing (hydrofrac) and steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD). The key advantages of the thermochemical BM technology as a resource- and cost-efficient one are demonstrated. It is suggested to improve the hydrofrac and SAGD efficiencies by heating the formation by the heat produced in the binary- mixture reaction zone. Metallothermic reactions of new highly energetic BMs and their potential for stimulation of natural bitumen production, heavy oil hydrocracking, and reduction of water cut are discussed. The prospects of the thermochemical BM technology are evaluated in terms of energy and cost efficiencies.