Changes

   • Steven Schamel, PhD., GeoX Consulting Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah USA

   • Steven Schamel, PhD., GeoX Consulting Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah USA

   • Milovan Fustic, PhD., University of Calgary, Canada

   • Milovan Fustic, PhD., University of Calgary, Canada

   • Ravil R. Ibatullin, PhD., CEO, TAL Oil Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada ===

   • Ravil R. Ibatullin, PhD., CEO, TAL Oil Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada  

== Executive Summary ==

== Executive Summary ==

=== Bitumen and heavy oil deposits occur in more than 70 countries across the world. The global in- place resources of bitumen and heavy oil are estimated to be 5.9 trillion barrels [938 billion m3], with more than 80% of these resources found in Canada, Venezuela and the United States. Globally there is just over one trillion barrels of technically-recoverable unconventional oils:

Bitumen and heavy oil deposits occur in more than 70 countries across the world. The global in- place resources of bitumen and heavy oil are estimated to be 5.9 trillion barrels [938 billion m3], with more than 80% of these resources found in Canada, Venezuela and the United States. Globally there is just over one trillion barrels of technically-recoverable unconventional oils:

434.3 billion barrels of heavy oil, including extra-heavy crude, and 650.7 billion barrels of bitumen. These bitumens are commonly interpreted as degraded conventional oils (Head et al., 2003; Bata et al., 2015, 2016; Bata, 2016; Hein, 2016; Bata et al., 2018). The two most important processes that act on light oil to produce heavy oil are biodegradation (hydrocarbon oxidation process involving the microbial metabolism of various classes of compounds, which alters the oil’s fluid properties and economic value) and water washing (the removal of the more water-soluble components of petroleum, especially low molecular weight aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes) (Palmer, 1993).

434.3 billion barrels of heavy oil, including extra-heavy crude, and 650.7 billion barrels of bitumen. These bitumens are commonly interpreted as degraded conventional oils (Head et al., 2003; Bata et al., 2015, 2016; Bata, 2016; Hein, 2016; Bata et al., 2018). The two most important processes that act on light oil to produce heavy oil are biodegradation (hydrocarbon oxidation process involving the microbial metabolism of various classes of compounds, which alters the oil’s fluid properties and economic value) and water washing (the removal of the more water-soluble components of petroleum, especially low molecular weight aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes) (Palmer, 1993).

Alaska’s heavy oil and bitumen deposits on the North Slope are very large (24 to 33 billion bbls, or 3.8 to 5.2 billion m3) and they hold promise for commercially-successful development. Heavy oil constitutes approximately 13.1% of the total Russian oil reserves, which official estimates place at 22.5 billion m3 or 141.8 billion bbls. Recoverable heavy oil occurs in three principal petroleum provinces, the Volga-Ural, Timan Pechora and the West Siberian Basin In all regions of sustained production, the industry is steadily improving in situ recovery methods and reducing environmental impacts of surface mining of bitumen and heavy oil.

Alaska’s heavy oil and bitumen deposits on the North Slope are very large (24 to 33 billion bbls, or 3.8 to 5.2 billion m3) and they hold promise for commercially-successful development. Heavy oil constitutes approximately 13.1% of the total Russian oil reserves, which official estimates place at 22.5 billion m3 or 141.8 billion bbls. Recoverable heavy oil occurs in three principal petroleum provinces, the Volga-Ural, Timan Pechora and the West Siberian Basin In all regions of sustained production, the industry is steadily improving in situ recovery methods and reducing environmental impacts of surface mining of bitumen and heavy oil.