Abstract Dramatic increases in oil production rates have been achieved in many Canadian heavy oil reservoirs. These reservoirs are 30% porosity unconsolidated sandstones with oil ranging from 500 to 12,000 cP viscosity. Furthermore, many of these reservoirs have proven to be almost impossible to exploit economically with horizontal wells or with thermal processes. After reviewing the mechanics of CHOP (Cold Heavy Oil Production), the production history of the Luseland Field in Saskatchewan is reviewed. This is almost a unique case history because conventional production, horizontal wells, and CHOP have all been attempted in a small geographic area. Encouraging sanding resulted in over a four-fold increase in oil production rate and a total extraction ratio now just in excess of 11% overall. An aggressive CHOP program implemented after many years of conventional production and after a six-well horizontal production program achieved this increase. Conventional production was marginally economic, but the horizontal wells were failures. Several other case histories are summarized to demonstrate that CHOP wells in these reservoirs are usually just as productive as much more costly horizontal wells. We believe that CHOP technology is a far better option than thermal stimulation or horizontal wells in many cases where the reservoir state and rock properties are suitable.