Which method uses heat?

Which method uses heat?

• A. Gas Injection
• B. Thermal Recovery
• C. Chemical Injection
• D. Waterflood

Answer: (B)

Thermal Recovery uses heat. By injecting steam (or other heat sources) into the reservoir, the temperature rises and the oil’s viscosity drops, making it much easier for the oil to flow and be displaced toward production wells. This is especially effective for heavy oil and bitumen, where natural flow would be too slow or blocked by high viscosity. The heat changes the oil’s rheology, increasing mobility and improving sweep efficiency, which boosts recovery. In contrast, the other methods rely on displacement without heating: Gas Injection uses a gas to push oil but doesn’t rely on heating the reservoir, Waterflood uses water to maintain pressure and sweep oil without changing viscosity, and Chemical Injection uses polymers or surfactants to alter flow properties, again without needing heat.

Thermal Recovery uses heat. By injecting steam (or other heat sources) into the reservoir, the temperature rises and the oil’s viscosity drops, making it much easier for the oil to flow and be displaced toward production wells. This is especially effective for heavy oil and bitumen, where natural flow would be too slow or blocked by high viscosity. The heat changes the oil’s rheology, increasing mobility and improving sweep efficiency, which boosts recovery. In contrast, the other methods rely on displacement without heating: Gas Injection uses a gas to push oil but doesn’t rely on heating the reservoir, Waterflood uses water to maintain pressure and sweep oil without changing viscosity, and Chemical Injection uses polymers or surfactants to alter flow properties, again without needing heat.