Method for producing pipeline specification bitumen from oil sands mining and extraction facilities using non-miscible solvents and centrifuge processing
OwnerJoseph Fournier, Tyler Layne LaValleyinventors
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Abstract
A method of producing pipeline quality bitumen, includes the steps of: receiving bitumen diluted with a diluent solvent from a secondary froth treatment process; thermally dehydrating the diluted bitumen at a temperature above about 100° C. and below the boiling point of the diluent solvent; mixing a high-density, non-miscible solvent (HD-NMS) and optionally, a low density, miscible solvent (LD-MS) to the diluted bitumen; and separating any remaining fine solids and precipitates by gravitational separation at a temperature above about 100° C. and below the boiling point of the diluent solvent.
Claims4
A method of producing pipeline quality bitumen, comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving bitumen diluted with a diluent solvent from a secondary froth treatment process;
- (b) thermally dehydrating the diluted bitumen at a temperature above about 100° C. and below the boiling point of the diluent solvent;
- (c) mixing a high-density, non-miscible solvent (HD-NMS) and optionally, a low density, miscible solvent (LD-MS) to the diluted bitumen;
- and
- (d) separating any remaining fine solids and precipitates by gravitational separation at a temperature above about 100° C. and below the boiling point of the diluent solvent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.