System and method for preparing near-surface heavy oil for extraction using microbial degradation

A method for enhancing the recovery of heavy oil in an underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment, comprising:

• sampling and identifying microbial species (bacteria and/or fungi) that reside in the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment;
• collecting rock and fluid property data from the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment;
• collecting nutrient data from the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment;
• identifying a preferred microbial species from the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment that can transform the heavy oil into a lighter oil;
• identifying a nutrient from the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment that promotes a proliferation of the preferred microbial species;
• and
• introducing the nutrient into the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment.