The present invention involves a method and apparatus for enhanced
recovery of petroleum fluids from the subsurface by injection of a steam
and hydrocarbon vaporized solvent in contact with the oil sand formation
and the heavy oil and bitumen in situ. Multiple propped hydraulic
fractures are constructed from the well bore into the oil sand formation
and filled with a highly permeable proppant. Steam, a hydrocarbon
solvent, and a non-condensing diluent gas are injected into the well bore
and the propped fractures. The injected gas flows upwards and outwards in
the propped fractures contacting the oil sands and in situ bitumen on the
vertical faces of the propped fractures. The steam condenses on the cool
bitumen and thus heats the bitumen by conduction, while the hydrocarbon
solvent vapors diffuse into the bitumen from the vertical faces of the
propped fractures. The bitumen softens and flows by gravity to the well
bore, exposing fresh surface of bitumen for the process to progressively
soften and mobilize the bitumen in a predominantly circumferential, i.e.
orthogonal to the propped fracture, diffusion direction at a nearly
uniform rate into the oil sand deposit. The produced product of oil and
dissolved solvent is pumped to the surface where the solvent can be
recycled for further injection.