"By applying advances in technology, data interpretation and heat management, we are turning our older heavy oil fields into the fields of the future — fields that are more modern, more efficient and have a longer producing life."

The application of new technology is keeping one of Chevron's oldest fields delivering significant volumes of crude oil. The Kern River Field, discovered in 1899, is one of the largest heavy oil fields in the world.

The oil is classified as heavy because it is very viscous and difficult to extract. Steam has been injected into the reservoir since the 1960s to heat the oil and reduce its viscosity, allowing it to be pumped out of the ground.

The keys to sustaining the performance of this mature field are the application of Chevron's heat management processes, a full-field 3-D earth model for reservoir surveillance and management, and artificial intelligence technology. The tools and processes that Chevron is using at Kern River are being used throughout the world to unlock new heavy oil resources.