ADDITIVE FOR INCLUSION IN A HEAVY OIL RESERVOIR UNDERGOING STEAM INJECTION
"ADDITIVE FOR INCLUSION IN A HEAVY OIL RESERVOIR UNDERGOING STEAM INJECTION" The viscosity of heavy oil may be incrementally reduced over what can be achieved by steam alone, by introducing an aqueous metal salt solution into a reservoir undergoing steam injection. The metal ion is selected from the group consisting of Ti, v, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo and Al. In a preferred feature CO is also introduced as a second additive, with a further oil viscosity reduction being observed with certain of the metal ions.