The paper describes a novel thermal recovery method for production of heavy oil and natural bitumen using high-temperature heat-transfer medium allowing for natural oil convection in the reservoir as a result of heating thereof up to 300-400°C through a heat exchanger installed in a horizontal borehole, which is also used for production of formation fluids at bottom-hole pressure that is close to original reservoir pressure. Analyses of energy consumption vs. original water saturation and extent of production vs. bottom-hole temperature have been performed.
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