| abstract |
A process is provided for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a reservoir of heavy oil containing sands. An injection stream comprising steam, hydrocarbon diluent, and a gas which is gaseous at formation temperature and pressure and soluable in the formation fluids at injection pressure is injected into the reservoir to mobilize the heavy oil, producing a flow of formation fluids which is subsequently produced from the reservoir. Suitable gases include carbon dioxide and oxygen. Naphtha is a preferred diluent. The provision of both diluent and gaseous additives in the steam injection stream is shown to improve conformance within the reservoir to enhance ultimate recovery of hydrocarbons from the reservoir. |