Patent ID: 7814975

Claim:
A method for hot fluid recovery of heavy hydrocarbons from heavy hydrocarbon bearing material comprising: delivering fuel fluid comprising a fuel, oxidant fluid comprising an oxidant, and diluent fluid comprising a diluent, to a diluted combustion system; combusting fuel with oxidant; forming a hot process fluid comprising products of combustion and diluent; controlling the hot process fluid temperature to within a prescribed range; delivering the hot process fluid to the heavy hydrocarbon bearing material; recovering a produced hydrocarbon fluid comprising hydrocarbon, water, and gas; separating the produced hydrocarbon fluid into a hydrocarbon fluid, an aqueous fluid comprising liquid water, and a gaseous fluid comprising carbon dioxide; and delivering as diluent one of: water comprising dissolved solids, water comprising suspended solids, a portion of the aqueous fluid, and a portion of the gaseous fluid.