HEAVY OIL DRILLING AND RECOVERY

摘要

A method of drilling a formation containing heavy oil that includes providing a drilling fluid comprising: a base fluid; and a separating agent characterized as enhancing the separation of heavy oil from a drilling fluid; drilling the formation containing the heavy oil using the drilling fluid; returning the drilling fluid to a formation surface, wherein the returned drilling fluid contains a portion of the heavy oil therein; removing at least a portion of the heavy oil from the returned drilling fluid; and recirculating the drilling fluid into the formation is disclosed.