IMPROVING RECOVERY FROM A HYDROCARBON RESERVOIR

摘要

Methods and apparatus for recovering heavy oil from subterranean reservoirs. A steam-utilizing heavy oil recovery process may be used to recover the heavy oil while employing a steam-solvent mixture. The solvent may be a tailored hydrocarbon solvent obtained from a precursor mixture of hydrocarbon compounds from which light end hydrocarbon compounds have been removed. The invention provides a method of producing a tailored solvent useful for a steam-utilizing heavy oil recovery process. The invention also provides an apparatus for producing such a tailored solvent.