PANAMA CITY, PANAMA (Piero Stewart, Energy Analytics Institute, 13.Mar.2022, Words: 521) — Venezuela has historically utilized various thermal recovery methods to assist in the production of its heavy and extra-heavy crude oil (EHCO). A summary of the four most popular in-situ thermal recovery methods follows.
ASSISTING IN THE INCORPORATION PROCESS
VAPEX
The VAPEX process (vapor extraction) usually uses a pair of horizontal wells one above the other and possibly horizontally displaced as well. This process uses a lighter hydrocarbon solvent in the range of propane or butane (or some combination of lighter hydrocarbons) injected into the upper horizontal well. The solvent diffuses into the heavy oil or bitumen diluting it and ultimately reducing its viscosity to enable it to drain by gravity to the lower horizontal producing well.
