Process for producing crude oil and bitumen products
AssigneeEpic Oil Extractors, LLC
InventorsRichard H. SCHLOSBERG, Richard D. JORDAN, Edward L. DIEFENTHAL
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are processes for producing crude oil and bitumen products of relatively high quality from oil sand. The processes for producing the high quality crude oil and bitumen products involve a Phase I and/or Phase II extraction solvent. According to the Phase I process, a high quality bitumen-derived crude oil can be produced using a Phase I type solvent. According to the Phase II process, a substantial amount of the bitumen on the oil sand can be extracted using a Phase II type solvent, while producing a relatively dry tailings by-product. The Phase I and Phase II extraction processes can be carried out independently or in conjunction with one another.
Claims25
A process for producing a bitumen-derived crude oil composition and a bitumen composition from an oil sands feedstock, comprising:
- treating the oil sands feedstock with a first hydrocarbon solvent to produce the bitumen-derived crude oil composition, wherein the oil sands feedstock is comprised of at least 6 wt % bitumen based on total weight of the oil sands, and the first hydrocarbon solvent is comprised of at least one of C3-C6 paraffins and halogen-substituted C1-C6 paraffins;
- separating the deasphalted crude oil composition from the treated oil sands, wherein the bitumen-derived crude oil composition has an asphaltene content of not greater than 10 wt % pentane insolubles, measured according to ASTM D4055;
- and
- treating the treated oil sands with a second hydrocarbon solvent to produce the heavy bitumen composition, wherein the second hydrocarbon solvent is comprised of an admixture of aliphatic hydrocarbon and a fraction of the bitumen-derived crude oil composition.
A process for producing a bitumen composition from an oil sands feedstock, comprising:
- treating the oil sands feedstock with a hydrocarbon solvent to produce the bitumen composition, wherein the hydrocarbon solvent is comprised of an admixture at least one of C3-C6 paraffins and halogen-substituted C1-C6 paraffins and a bitumen-derived crude oil having an asphaltene content of not greater than 10 wt %;
- and
- separating the bitumen composition from the treated oil sands.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.