The novel THAI-CAPRI technology and its comparison to other thermal methods for heavy oil recovery and upgrading

The huge consumption of conventional light crude and the continuous depletion of its reserves in addition to rising oil price have shifted attention to heavy oil reserves as an alternative substitute for our world which is largely dependent on petroleum-based fuels energy resource. To exploit heavy oil reserves economically with less environmental impact, the toe-to-heel air injection and its add-on CAtalytic upgrading PRocess In-situ ( THAICAPRI TM) process was developed for its recovery and upgrading in situ in the reservoir. This technology was propelled by several factors: producing oil of commercial value in situ that meets refinery feedstock specifications, the rising global demands for energy, the declining of conventional light oil reservoirs, increasing price of light crude alongside fluctuating supply, and most importantly the abundant deposits of heavy oil and bitumen energy resources worldwide that is waiting exploitation. With estimated 8 trillions of heavy oil and bitumen reserves, it shows their capacity to boost global energy source for decades. The THAI-CAPRI TM process was developed in 1998, and its main objective was to convert heavy oil into light oil in situ without resort to further surface upgrading, in contrast to other thermal technologies like steam flooding, SAGD, CSS, conventional in situ combustion, etc. Throughout this paper the primary focus will be on THAICAPRI TM process, a brief overview of the thermal methods commonly applied by the petroleum industry for heavy oil and bitumen recovery will also be presented, so as to enable comparison between the techniques, in view that the findings would shape further research and applications.