How much energy can be needed to produce steam for heavy oil recovery?

To produce steam for heavy oil recovery, significant energy is required to heat the reservoir and reduce the viscosity of the oil.

In the process known as steam flooding, steam serves both to heat and transport the oil. Because of the high energy demands of this method, it is often necessary to consume an amount of energy equivalent to burning roughly 25 to 35 percent of the heavy oil produced just to generate the required steam, even in favorable reservoirs.1

The injection of steam is a primary thermal method for petroleum production, as it releases the heat of vaporization upon condensation within the formation. While other techniques like in situ combustion exist to generate heat directly within the reservoir, steam injection remains a widespread and effective approach for managing highly viscous deposits.23