Editing Oil sands (section)

===Vapor Extraction (VAPEX)===
Several methods use solvents, instead of steam, to separate bitumen from sand. Some solvent extraction methods may work better in ''in situ'' production and other in mining.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/canmet-20120116.html |title=Natural Resources Canada team investigates solvent extraction process for oil sand bitumen; non-aqueous alternative to hot water processing with reduced environmental impacts |date=16 January 2012 |work=Green Car Congress |publisher=BioAge Group, LLC }}</ref> Solvent can be beneficial if it produces more oil while requiring less energy to produce steam.

Vapor Extraction Process (VAPEX) is an ''in situ'' technology, similar to SAGD. Instead of steam, hydrocarbon solvents are injected into an upper well to dilute bitumen and enables the diluted bitumen to flow into a lower well. It has the advantage of much better [[Energy efficiency (physics)|energy efficiency]] over steam injection, and it does some partial upgrading of bitumen to oil right in the formation. The process has attracted attention from oil companies, who are experimenting with it.

The above methods are not mutually exclusive. It is becoming common for wells to be put through one CSS injection-soak-production cycle to condition the formation prior to going to SAGD production, and companies are experimenting with combining VAPEX with SAGD to improve recovery rates and lower energy costs.<ref>{{cite web |title=VAPEX and Solvent Technology |url=http://www.oilsandsdevelopers.ca/index.php/oil-sands-technologies/in-situ/the-process-2/vapex-and-solvent-technology/ |publisher=Oil Sands Developers Group |access-date=2012-07-11}}</ref>