Heavy Oil

Throughout the world there exist large reserves of heavy oil, some of these reserves
are often equal to that of the world's largest conventional oil fields. However, few of these
heavy oil deposits have been developed due to nature and operational cost associated with Commented [G1]: Inserted: e
heavy oil. Within the oil and gas industry, there have been several inconsistencies in Commented [G5]: Deleted:i
classifying heavy oils. However, an organization known as the World Energy Council classifies
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heavy oil as an oil that has an API gravity of less than 22.3 or a density of less than 0.920. Oils
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which consists of an API gravity less than 10 are deemed as "Extra- Heavy Oil" or Bitumen. In
Trinidad and Tobago, heavy oil is classified as a petroleum fluid which has an API gravity of
less than 18. In order to understand how heavy oil can be useful to the energy sector, it is
important to first examine the value chain and assess how each of the challenges of heavy
oils affects the stages in the value chain. The heavy oil value chain consists of (1) Exploration,
(2) Development and Production (3) Transportation (4) Refining and (5) Marketing. Commented [G3]: Inserted: s
Heavy Oils do not belong to a genetically distinct grouping and thus there exist three Commented [G4]: Inserted: s
main processes in which heavy oil can be generated. Subsequently, heavy oil exploration can,
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therefore, be restricted to specific areas in which these processes occur. The first of these
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processes is Biodegradation. Biodegradation occurs when microbes attack the lightest and
most valuable components of oil. Overtime biodegradation results in continuous stripping of Commented [G9]: Inserted: ,
these light components such as alkanes and cyclic leaving behind the heaviest compounds Commented [G10]: Inserted: ,
such as asphaltenes. Biodegradation can only occur at shallow depths since microbes can not
thrive in temperatures greater than 70 degrees celsius. The second process in which a heavy Commented [G13]: Deleted:s
can be formed is through the generation of low maturity oil. This is a result of source rocks Commented [G14]: Deleted:,
specifically calcareous ones generation oil at relatively low temperatures. Gravity Segregation
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is the final means in which heavy oil may be formed. This occurs when reservoirs have a large
column height and good vertical permeability resulting in the heavier components of a crude
oil sinking towards the base of the column. Commented [G11]: Inserted: a
Transporting heavy oil is one of the main challenges associated with heavy oil due to Commented [G12]: Inserted: s
its sluggish flow properties. In order to mobilise the heavy oil surface pipelines need to be
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heated. In order to transport it, the heavy oil is sometimes upgraded through refining before
being transported, diluted with lower viscosity fluids, or turned into an Orimulsion ( 30%
water, 70% oil and a surfactant) in order to increase its API or decrease its viscosity. For short
distances only, trucking may be used to transport heavy oils. Commented [G17]: Inserted: ,