EnergyInsights.net enclose ariel photographs of oil fields in Bakersfield, California. This area is an heavy oil field with steam injections facilities which improve recovery factors from the normal 5% for heavy oil to range 10 to 50% for successful steam injection enhanced recovery projects.

Because of the high technical lifting costs - some $10-$30/bbl, the oil is only economic att prices above say $20-30/bbl - hence Bakersfield is doing very well at present with oil prices at $70/bbl.

Heavy oil producers in the USA are benefiting from high oil prices dispropportionately more than light oil producers.