Air Injection in Heavy Oil Reservoirs-A Process Whose Time Has Come (Again)

Air injection in heavy oil and bitumen reservoirs, also known as in-situ combustion or fireflooding, is an enhanced recovery process that has been around for several decades. While on paper or in the laboratory this oil recovery process shows tremendous potential, its success in past field applications has been spotty at best. Times have changed, and so has our understanding of air injection-based oil recovery Processes. Our available technologies for accessing and producing the reservoir and our emphasis on reducing environmental impacts have changed as well. In short, the industry is smarter, has better technology, and maintains a significant commitment to sustainable resource development. This paper reviews portions of the past history of air injection in Canadian heavy oil and bitumen reservoirs; discusses the significant advances in our understanding of the in-situ process; reviews currently successful air-injection projects; summarizes the keys to successful implementation of air-injection-based recovery processes; and proposes several novel applications of air injection, including hybrid processes with steam or vapour solvent, in-situ upgrading, in-situ steam generation, and in-situ gasification.