The three major types of enhanced oil
recovery operations are chemical
flooding (alkaline flooding or
micellar-polymer flooding), miscible
displacement (carbon dioxide [CO2]
injection or hydrocarbon injection), and
thermal recovery (steamflood). The
optimal application of each type
depends on reservoir temperature,
pressure, depth, net pay, permeability,
residual oil and water saturations,
porosity and fluid properties such as oil
API gravity and viscosity.
GAS OIL
INITIAL VOLUME IN PLACE
The higher boiling point component of
crude oil.
GASIFICATION
The volume calculated or interpreted to
exist in a reservoir before any volume has
been produced.
A process to partially oxidize any IN SI TU
hydrocarbon, typically heavy residues, to In its original place; in position; in situ
a mixture of hydrogen and carbon recovery refers to various methods used
monoxide. Can be used to produce to recover deeply buried bitumen
hydrogen and various energy deposits, including steam injection,
byproducts. solvent injection and firefloods.
GREENHOUSE GASES
IN SI TU COMBUSTION
Gases commonly believed to be
connected to climate change and global
ESTABLISHED RECOVERABLE RESERVES warming. CO2 is the most common, but
A displacement enhanced oil recovery
method. It works by generating
combustion gases (primarily CO and CO2)
downhole, which then "pushes" the oil
towards the recovery well.
Reserves recoverable under current include other light hydrocarbons (such
technology and present and anticipated as methane) and nitrous oxide.
economic conditions, plus that portion of
recoverable reserves that is interpreted GYPSUM LC-FINING
to exist, based on geological, geophysical A byproduct of flue gas desulphurization Expanded ebulating bed
or similar information, with reasonable units, and is also partly consumed in hydroprocessing technology used to
certainty. mining operations to help consolidate continuously crack bitumen into lighter
fine tailings. products through the catalytic addition
of hydrogen.
ESTABLISHED RESERVES
Those reserves recoverable with current HEAVY CRUDE OIL
technology and present and anticipated Oil with a gravity below 22 degrees API. LEASE
economic conditions specifically proved Heavy crudes must be blended, or mixed, A legal document with the province of
by drilling, testing or production, plus the with condensate to be shipped by Alberta giving an operator the right to
portion of contiguous recoverable pipeline. extract bitumen from the oil sand
reserves that are interpreted to exist existing within the specified lease area.
from geological, geophysical or similar The land must be reclaimed and
information with reasonable certainty. returned to the Crown at the end of
operations.
HOT WATER EX TRAC TION
EXTRACTION
An extraction process whereby oil sand,
hot water, steam and reagents are mixed
to extract bitumen at a temperature of
about 80 degrees Celsius.
A process, unique to the oil sands
industry, which separates the bitumen HYDROCRACKING
from the oil sand using hot water, steam Refining process for reducing heavy
and caustic soda. hydrocarbons into lighter fractions, using
hydrogen and a catalyst; can also be
used in upgrading of bitumen.
LIGHT CRUDE OIL
Liquid petroleum with a gravity of 28
degrees API or higher. A high-quality
light crude oil might have a gravity of
about 40 degrees API. Upgraded crude
FINE TAILINGS oils from the oil sands run around 33 to
Essentially muddy water—about 85 per 33 degrees API (compared to 32 to 34 for
cent water and 15 per cent fine clay HYDROPROCESSING Light Arab and 37 to 40 for West Texas
particles by volume produced as a result An upgrading process for reducing Intermediate).
of extraction. heavy hydrocarbons into lighter fractions
through the catalytic addition of MATURE FINE TAILINGS
hydrogen. A gel-like material resulting from the
processing of clay fines contained within
the oil sands.
FINES
Minute particles of solids such as clay or
sand. HYDROTRANSPORT
FISCAL TERMS
Royalty and tax terms under which the
industry operates.
A slurry process which transports water
and oil sands through a pipeline to MEDIUM CRUDE OIL
primary separation vessels located in an Liquid petroleum with a gravity between
extraction plant. 23 and 28 degrees API.
FLUID COKING
A process by which bitumen is HYDROTREATER
continuously cracked to produce lighter Unit that removes sulphur and nitrogen
hydrocarbons and coke. from the components of synthetic crude
oil by the catalytic addition of hydrogen;
a final stage in the upgrading process.
MIDDLINGS
FRACTION
Separate, identifiable part of crude oil,
the product of refining or distillation.
FROTH TREATMEN T
INITIAL ESTABLISHED RESERVES
Established reserves prior to the
deduction of any production.
Mixture of water, clay, sand and bitumen
that remains between the bitumen froth
at the surface and the sand at the
bottom of a primary separation vessel at
the end of the extraction stage. Further
processing is required to maximize
bitumen recovery.
The means to recover bitumen from the
mixture of water, bitumen and solids
“froth” produced in hot water extraction
(in mining-based recovery).
MUSKEG
A water-soaked layer of decaying plant
material, one to three metres thick, found
on top of the overburden.
