Effect of FeO_X inorganic additive in SAGD process for oil sand recovery

Lab scale simulated steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process devices were used to investigate the effect of inorganic additives for the bitumen recovery from oil sand. An extra heavy oil similar with bitumen and 1.5 mm diameter of the glass bead instead of clay was mixed to simulate the oil sand. In addition, FeOX synthesized from the inorganic process was introduced as an inorganic additive for improving the recovery. Finally, the steam heat transfer rate of approximately 40% following the introduction of inorganic additives which also increased the recovery rate by about 30%.