Tertiary oil recovery reduces the oil's viscosity to increase oil production. Thermally enhanced oil recovery methods (TEOR) are tertiary recovery techniques that heat the oil and make it easier to extract. Steam injection is the most common form of TEOR, and is often done with a cogeneration plant. In this type of cogeneration plant, a gas turbine is used to generate electricity and the waste heat is used to produce steam, which is then injected into the reservoir. This form of recovery is used extensively to increase oil production in the San Joaquin Valley, which has very heavy oil, yet accounts for 10% of the United States' oil production.[citation needed] In-situ burning is another form of TEOR, but instead of steam, some of the oil is burned to heat the surrounding oil. Occasionally, detergents are also used to decrease oil viscosity as a tertiary oil recovery method.
Another method to reduce viscosity is carbon dioxide flooding.
Tertiary recovery allows another 5% to 15% of the reservoir's oil to be recovered.
Tertiary recovery begins when secondary oil recovery isn't enough to continue adequate production, but only when the oil can still be extracted profitably,. This depends on the cost of the extraction method and the current price of crude oil. When prices are high, previously unprofitable wells are brought back into production and when they are low, production is curtailed.
The image below is a schematic flow diagram of a typical oil refinery that depicts the various unit processes and the flow of intermediate product streams that occurs between the inlet crude oil feedstock and the final end products. The diagram depicts only one of the literally hundreds of different oil refinery configurations. The diagram also does not include any of the usual refinery facilities providing utilities such as steam, cooling water, and electric power as well as storage tanks for crude oil feedstock and for intermediate products and end products.
There are many process configurations other than that depicted above. For example, the vacuum distillation unit may also produce fractions that can be refined into endproducts such as: spindle oil used in the textile industry, light machinery oil, motor oil, and steam cylinder oil. As another example, the vacuum residue may be processed in a coker unit to produce petroleum coke.
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Geologic time, from the formation of the Earth at ~4.6 billion years ago to the present, is understood and represented by layered rocks throughout the world. By understanding the relative ages of layered and cross-cutting rocks, and the fossils they contain, geologists have developed a geologic time scale. Relative ages are cross-correlated with numerical ages derived from radioactive isotopes of elements contained in some of the geologic units. Using fossils and radiometric ages, geologists can compare the geologic strata of Montana with the "type section" of Devonian rocks exposed in the Devon area of southern England. For example, using fossils, geologists can compare certain geologic strata in Montana with the "type section" of Devonian age rocks in Devon, England and determine that their ages are the same. Radiometric dates tell us that Devonian rocks fall in a range of 369–410 million years ago.
For example, using fossils, geologists can compare certain geologic strata in Montana with the "type section" of Devonian age rocks in Devon, England and determine that their ages are the same. Radiometric dates tell us that Devonian rocks fall in a range of 369–410 million years ago. 
The area is structurally complex. Four styles of faulting are present in the northern part of the area. Northwest-striking thrust faults of probable Cretaceous age are the oldest structures recognized. These faults place older rocks over younger rocks, and portions of these structures are steep enough to be considered reverse faults. Normal faults are present behind and
parallel to several of the thrusts, bringing young rocks of the hanging wall down again. These normal faults may merge at depth with the thrust faults. A second type of normal fault is represented by a single low-angle, nearly horizontal structure, with the younger rocks on the upper plate. Age of this structure is uncertain, but most likely early Tertiary. The youngest group of normal faults are steep, with northerly or northeasterly strikes.
Folding in the northern part of the area is typically along north-west trending axes. The carbonate-bearing Wallace Formation was particularly susceptible to folding. The folding probably coincided with formation of the thrust faults during Cretaceous time.
The area with the least amount of structural complexity is the north-central portion of the map along the west side of Petty Mountain and Telephone Butte. A significant section of the Belt Supergroup is exposed here, from the Wallace Formation to the upper part of the Mount Shields Formation.
Geologic and mineral research enhances Montana's information base, encourages responsible development and environmental protection, and provides key assessments of resource problems.
Staff members conduct research in a variety of areas some of which are: geology of the Rocky Mountains, earthquake studies, fossil fuels, landslide studies, ground water, environmental assessment, and more recently, science education. In addition, Bureau professionals actively participate on approximately 50 technical advisory committees, councils, or study groups for the benefit of public organizations or agencies. Bureau personnel contribute their expertise and also continue to learn through their participation in and communication with these groups.
