What is a heavy oil?

raw oil, which does not flow easily at room temperature, is called heavy oil. This differs from light oil, which flows freely at the same temperatures due to its lower density. Oil oil with the American oil institute of gravity less than 20 degrees is classified as a heavy oil or extra heavy oil. It is speculated that the total amount of heavy oil around the world is more than double the traditionally used light oil. The term "bitumen", which is sometimes sticky, semi -solid, tar formal form found in tar, will be used interchangeably with extra heavy raw oil found in such deposits. Some geologists say that bitumen is only a form of extra heavy oil, which is so dense that it does not flow at the room temperature at all.

Transport and refining severe oil represents greater environmental risks than transport and refining more traditional light oil. Heavy oil contains more carbon along with many other dirt, so it releases more oxide during and during production and during usein carbonate, which may negatively affect the Earth's ozone layer. The heavy oil production process can generate up to three times the amount of carbon dioxide that produces light oil.

Economically, severe oil is often cost -effective than light oil, because it is considered to be more difficult and more expensive to work with it. Although heavy oil can often be found at far bellogy depths than light oil - a feature that can significantly reduce the cost of extraction - heavy oil production represents other expenses. Many of the traditional methods established for the transport and extraction of light Crude oil have proved ineffective in solving increased density of heavy oil, which requires expensive changes in infrastructure.

As easily available light oil deposits are shrinking, heavy oil production has become more common. Although it is located in more than 30 countries, the largest bearings can be found in Venezuela near the Orinoco River. It is estimated to hold these bearingsMore than 500 billion barrels of oil, making them the largest renewable oil deposits in the world.