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.
Claims9
A waterless process for producing a bitumen composition and a tailings by-product from a bitumen-containing oil sands feedstock, comprising:
- (a) treating the bitumen-containing oil sands feedstock with a hydrocarbon solvent to produce the bitumen composition and the tailings by-product, wherein:
- (i) the hydrocarbon solvent is comprised of:
- 1) from 95 wt % to 5 wt % of at least one of C3-C6 paraffins and halogen-substituted C1-C6 paraffins, and 2) from 5 wt % to 95 wt % of a bitumen-derived crude oil composition, wherein the bitumen-derived crude oil composition contains low-asphaltene crude oil, deasphalted crude oil obtained from a refinery process, or a combination thereof, and the low-asphaltene crude oil composition has an asphaltene content of not greater than 10 wt %, and
- (ii) the hydrocarbon solvent contacts the oil sands feedstock in a contact zone of a contactor, wherein at least 5 wt % of the hydrocarbon solvent contacting the oil sands feedstock in the contact zone of the contactor is in vapor phase;
- and
- (b) separating the bitumen composition from the tailings by-product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.