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Depending on the in-situ crude-oil viscosity and reservoir depth, unconventional oil is recovered either with in-situ recovery methods or through mining. The latter is generally applied to tar sands that are shallow enough for open-pit mining or shaft mining to be implemented. Fig. 2.1 displays the current state of recovery techniques that have been commercially tested (in blue) or are at experimental stage. Note that while open-pit mining techniques involve the removal of a significant amount of overburden, the recovery factor is 99% or better. In-situ techniques clearly have advantages in fewer amounts of surface disruption and potentially smaller environmental barriers. As for shale oil recovery, hydraulic fracturing to gain reservoir access is the key primary technology. Methods for enhancing recovery of shale oil are currently under investigation.

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