CA2520943A1 - Method for direct solvent extraction of heavy oil from oil sands using a hydrocarbon solvent - Google Patents

Method for direct solvent extraction of heavy oil from oil sands using a hydrocarbon solvent Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2520943A1
CA2520943A1 CA 2520943 CA2520943A CA2520943A1 CA 2520943 A1 CA2520943 A1 CA 2520943A1 CA 2520943 CA2520943 CA 2520943 CA 2520943 A CA2520943 A CA 2520943A CA 2520943 A1 CA2520943 A1 CA 2520943A1
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Canada
Prior art keywords
solvent
hydrocarbon solvent
force
phase separation
emulsion
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Granted
Application number
CA 2520943
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French (fr)
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CA2520943C (en
Inventor
Vining Thompson Wolff
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10-C OILSANDS PROCESS Ltd
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10-C OILSANDS PROCESS Ltd
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Priority to CA 2520943 priority Critical patent/CA2520943C/en
Publication of CA2520943A1 publication Critical patent/CA2520943A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2520943C publication Critical patent/CA2520943C/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
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Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10GCRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G1/00Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal
    • C10G1/04Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal by extraction
    • C10G1/045Separation of insoluble materials
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B03SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
    • B03BSEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS
    • B03B9/00General arrangement of separating plant, e.g. flow sheets
    • B03B9/02General arrangement of separating plant, e.g. flow sheets specially adapted for oil-sand, oil-chalk, oil-shales, ozokerite, bitumen, or the like
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10GCRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G1/00Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal
    • C10G1/04Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal by extraction

Abstract

There is provided a method comprising: a) preparing a slurry having a temperature of between about 5°C and about 85°C by mining an oil sand deposit to produce a mined oil sand and mixing the mined oil sand with water; b) mixing the slurry with at least one hydrocarbon solvent thereby producing a solvent-slurry mixture; c) agitating the solvent-slurry mixture by transporting the solvent-slurry mixture along a pipeline, thereby producing an emulsion; and d) providing the emulsion to a primary separation facility.

Claims (39)

1. ~A method comprising:
a) preparing a slurry having a temperature of about 5°C to about 25°C by mining an oil sand deposit to produce a mined oil sand comprising a heavy oil adhered to inert particles and mixing the mined oil sand with water;
b) mixing the slurry with at least one hydrocarbon solvent to produce a solvent-slurry mixture;

c) agitating the solvent-slurry mixture by transporting the solvent-slurry mixture along a pipeline, to produce an emulsion comprising i) a solution of the heavy oil dissolved in the hydrocarbon solvent ii) an aqueous phase and iii) the inert particles; and d) separating the phases of the emulsion into a diluted heavy oil fraction comprising the heavy oil and a tailings fraction by applying a phase separation force over a phase separation period;
wherein the heavy oil is separated from the inert particles by dissolving the heavy oil in the hydrocarbon solvent.
2. ~The method of claim 1 wherein the phase separation force is a G-force of at least 1.
3. ~The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the phase separation force is a G-force of between 1 and 4000.
4. ~The method of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the phase separation force is a G-force of between 1 and 1000.
5. ~The method of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the phase separation force is a G-force of between 1 and 10.
6. ~The method of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the phase separation force is gravity.
7. ~The method of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the phase separation force is a centrifugal force or a centripetal force.
8. ~The method of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the phase separation period is at least 4 minutes.
9. ~The method of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the phase separation period is less than 4 minutes.
10. ~The method of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the phase separation period is between about 1 to about 4 minutes.
11. ~The method of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the diluted heavy oil fraction is recovered from the emulsion at a primary separation facility.
12. ~The method of any one of claims 1 or 11 wherein the mixing is provided in the pipeline.
13. ~The method of any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the pipeline is a hydrotransport pipeline.
14. ~The method of any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the at least one hydrocarbon solvent is a light hydrocarbon solvent.
15. ~The method of any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the at least one hydrocarbon solvent is selected from the group consisting of: a branched alkane, an unbranched alkane, a cyclic alkane, and an aromatic hydrocarbon.
16. ~The method of any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the at least one hydrocarbon solvent is at least one C4 to C16 alkane.
17. ~The method of any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the at least one hydrocarbon solvent is at least two hydrocarbon solvents selected from the group consisting of: a branched alkane, an unbranched alkane, a cyclic alkane, and an aromatic hydrocarbon.
18. ~The method of any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the at least one hydrocarbon solvent is a paraffinic solvent.
19. The method of any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the at least one hydrocarbon solvent is a naphthenic solvent.
20. The method of any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein the at least one hydrocarbon solvent has a density of less than 0.9 g/mL.
21. The method of any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein the at least one hydrocarbon solvent has a density of between about 0.4 g/mL and about 0.9 g/mL.
22. The method of any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein the at least one hydrocarbon solvent has a density of between about 0.5 g/mL and about 0.8 g/mL.
23. The method of any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein the at least one hydrocarbon solvent has a density of between about 0.6 g/mL and about 0.7 g/mL.
24 The method of any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the at least one hydrocarbon solvent is selected from the group consisting of: benzene, toluene, xylene and ethyl benzene.
25. The method of any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the at least one hydrocarbon solvent is selected from the group consisting of: n-pentane, naphtha, Varsol .TM., paint thinner, Naptha .TM., paraffinic solvent, reformate and hexane.
26. The method of any one of claims 1 to 25 wherein the emulsion has a temperature from about 5°C to about 25°C.
27. The method of any one of claims 1 to 26 wherein the water has a temperature from about 5°C to about 25°C.
28. The method of any one of claims 1 to 27 wherein the slurry has a density of about 1.1 g/cc to about 1.7 g/cc.
29. The method of any one of claims 1 to 27 wherein the slurry has a density of about 1.3 g/cc to about 1.65 g/cc.
30. The method of any one of claims 1 to 27 wherein the slurry has a density of about 1.4 g/cc to about 1.5 g/cc.
31. The method of any one of claims 1 to 30 wherein the emulsion has a solvent to bitumen ratio of about 1.5:1 by weight to about 3:1 by weight.
32. The method of any one of claims 1 to 30 wherein the emulsion has a solvent to bitumen ratio of about 1.5:1 by weight to about 2.5:1 by weight.
33. The method of any one of claims 1 to 30 wherein the emulsion has a solvent to bitumen ratio of about 2:1 by weight.
34. The method of any one of claims 1 to 33 wherein the agitating has a duration of at least two minutes.
35. The method of any one of claims 11 wherein the primary separation facility is a primary separation vessel.
36. The method of claim 35 wherein the primary separation vessel has a pressure rating greater than the vapour pressure of the hydrocarbon solvent at a maximum operating temperature.
37. The method of claim 35 or 36 wherein the primary separation vessel has a vapour recovery unit.
38. The method of any one of claims 35 to 37 wherein the primary separation vessel has a volume that provides a minimum emulsion residence time of four minutes.
39. The method of any one of claims 11 wherein the primary separation facility is a hydrocyclone facility.
CA 2520943 2005-09-23 2005-09-23 Method for direct solvent extraction of heavy oil from oil sands using a hydrocarbon solvent Expired - Fee Related CA2520943C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2520943 CA2520943C (en) 2005-09-23 2005-09-23 Method for direct solvent extraction of heavy oil from oil sands using a hydrocarbon solvent

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2520943 CA2520943C (en) 2005-09-23 2005-09-23 Method for direct solvent extraction of heavy oil from oil sands using a hydrocarbon solvent

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2520943A1 true CA2520943A1 (en) 2006-04-07
CA2520943C CA2520943C (en) 2011-11-22

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Cited By (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7677397B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2010-03-16 Suncor Energy Inc. Sizing roller screen ore processing apparatus
US7726491B2 (en) 2002-09-19 2010-06-01 Suncor Energy Inc. Bituminous froth hydrocarbon cyclone
US7736501B2 (en) 2002-09-19 2010-06-15 Suncor Energy Inc. System and process for concentrating hydrocarbons in a bitumen feed
US8025341B2 (en) 2005-11-09 2011-09-27 Suncor Energy Inc. Mobile oil sands mining system
WO2012113074A1 (en) * 2011-02-25 2012-08-30 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Process for treating high paraffin diluted bitumen
US8357291B2 (en) 2008-02-11 2013-01-22 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Upgrading bitumen in a paraffinic froth treatment process
US8449764B2 (en) 2008-11-26 2013-05-28 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Method for using native bitumen markers to improve solvent-assisted bitumen extraction
US8455405B2 (en) 2008-11-26 2013-06-04 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Solvent for extracting bitumen from oil sands
US8636897B2 (en) 2007-07-31 2014-01-28 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Reducing foulant carry-over or build up in a paraffinic froth treatment process
US8646615B2 (en) 2009-07-24 2014-02-11 Suncor Energy Inc. Screening disk, roller, and roller screen for screening an ore feed
US8701470B2 (en) 2009-01-23 2014-04-22 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Method and system for determining particle size distribution and filterable solids in a bitumen-containing fluid
US9207019B2 (en) 2011-04-15 2015-12-08 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Heat recovery for bitumen froth treatment plant integration with sealed closed-loop cooling circuit
US9475994B2 (en) 2011-05-03 2016-10-25 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Enhancing fine capture in paraffinic froth treatment process
US9546323B2 (en) 2011-01-27 2017-01-17 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Process for integration of paraffinic froth treatment hub and a bitumen ore mining and extraction facility
US9550190B2 (en) 2011-11-08 2017-01-24 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Dewatering oil sand tailings
US9587177B2 (en) 2011-05-04 2017-03-07 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Enhanced turndown process for a bitumen froth treatment operation
US9676684B2 (en) 2011-03-01 2017-06-13 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Process and unit for solvent recovery from solvent diluted tailings derived from bitumen froth treatment
CN107129823A (en) * 2017-04-14 2017-09-05 特思锐能源科技(北京)有限责任公司 The separation method of oil and solid in oil-containing solids
US9791170B2 (en) 2011-03-22 2017-10-17 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Process for direct steam injection heating of oil sands slurry streams such as bitumen froth
US10017698B2 (en) 2012-04-13 2018-07-10 Michael James Flegal Single solvent method and machine for separating bitumen from oil sand
US10041005B2 (en) 2011-03-04 2018-08-07 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Process and system for solvent addition to bitumen froth
US10226717B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2019-03-12 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Method of recovering solvent from tailings by flashing under choked flow conditions
US11261383B2 (en) 2011-05-18 2022-03-01 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Enhanced temperature control of bitumen froth treatment process

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US8393561B2 (en) 2005-11-09 2013-03-12 Suncor Energy Inc. Method and apparatus for creating a slurry
CA2567644C (en) 2005-11-09 2014-01-14 Suncor Energy Inc. Mobile oil sands mining system
US8168071B2 (en) 2005-11-09 2012-05-01 Suncor Energy Inc. Process and apparatus for treating a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock
US8252170B2 (en) 2008-06-27 2012-08-28 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Optimizing feed mixer performance in a paraffinic froth treatment process
CA2640514A1 (en) 2008-09-18 2010-03-18 Kyle Alan Bruggencate Method and apparatus for processing an ore feed
CA2672004C (en) 2009-07-14 2012-03-27 Imperial Oil Resources Limited Feed delivery system for a solid-liquid separation vessel
CA2689021C (en) 2009-12-23 2015-03-03 Thomas Charles Hann Apparatus and method for regulating flow through a pumpbox
CA2693640C (en) 2010-02-17 2013-10-01 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Solvent separation in a solvent-dominated recovery process
CA2696638C (en) 2010-03-16 2012-08-07 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Use of a solvent-external emulsion for in situ oil recovery
CA2705643C (en) 2010-05-26 2016-11-01 Imperial Oil Resources Limited Optimization of solvent-dominated recovery
CA3016908A1 (en) 2018-09-07 2020-03-07 Suncor Energy Inc. Non-aqueous extraction of bitumen from oil sands
CA3051955A1 (en) 2019-08-14 2021-02-14 Suncor Energy Inc. Non-aqueous extraction and separation of bitumen from oil sands ore using paraffinic solvent and deasphalted bitumen

Cited By (27)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7726491B2 (en) 2002-09-19 2010-06-01 Suncor Energy Inc. Bituminous froth hydrocarbon cyclone
US7736501B2 (en) 2002-09-19 2010-06-15 Suncor Energy Inc. System and process for concentrating hydrocarbons in a bitumen feed
US7677397B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2010-03-16 Suncor Energy Inc. Sizing roller screen ore processing apparatus
US8025341B2 (en) 2005-11-09 2011-09-27 Suncor Energy Inc. Mobile oil sands mining system
US8636897B2 (en) 2007-07-31 2014-01-28 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Reducing foulant carry-over or build up in a paraffinic froth treatment process
US8357291B2 (en) 2008-02-11 2013-01-22 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Upgrading bitumen in a paraffinic froth treatment process
US8449764B2 (en) 2008-11-26 2013-05-28 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Method for using native bitumen markers to improve solvent-assisted bitumen extraction
US8455405B2 (en) 2008-11-26 2013-06-04 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Solvent for extracting bitumen from oil sands
US8701470B2 (en) 2009-01-23 2014-04-22 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Method and system for determining particle size distribution and filterable solids in a bitumen-containing fluid
US8646615B2 (en) 2009-07-24 2014-02-11 Suncor Energy Inc. Screening disk, roller, and roller screen for screening an ore feed
US9546323B2 (en) 2011-01-27 2017-01-17 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Process for integration of paraffinic froth treatment hub and a bitumen ore mining and extraction facility
WO2012113074A1 (en) * 2011-02-25 2012-08-30 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Process for treating high paraffin diluted bitumen
US9587176B2 (en) 2011-02-25 2017-03-07 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Process for treating high paraffin diluted bitumen
US10125325B2 (en) 2011-02-25 2018-11-13 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Process for treating high paraffin diluted bitumen
US9676684B2 (en) 2011-03-01 2017-06-13 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Process and unit for solvent recovery from solvent diluted tailings derived from bitumen froth treatment
US10041005B2 (en) 2011-03-04 2018-08-07 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Process and system for solvent addition to bitumen froth
US10988695B2 (en) 2011-03-04 2021-04-27 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Process and system for solvent addition to bitumen froth
US9791170B2 (en) 2011-03-22 2017-10-17 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Process for direct steam injection heating of oil sands slurry streams such as bitumen froth
US9207019B2 (en) 2011-04-15 2015-12-08 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Heat recovery for bitumen froth treatment plant integration with sealed closed-loop cooling circuit
US10226717B2 (en) 2011-04-28 2019-03-12 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Method of recovering solvent from tailings by flashing under choked flow conditions
US9475994B2 (en) 2011-05-03 2016-10-25 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Enhancing fine capture in paraffinic froth treatment process
US9587177B2 (en) 2011-05-04 2017-03-07 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Enhanced turndown process for a bitumen froth treatment operation
US11261383B2 (en) 2011-05-18 2022-03-01 Fort Hills Energy L.P. Enhanced temperature control of bitumen froth treatment process
US9550190B2 (en) 2011-11-08 2017-01-24 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Dewatering oil sand tailings
US10017698B2 (en) 2012-04-13 2018-07-10 Michael James Flegal Single solvent method and machine for separating bitumen from oil sand
CN107129823A (en) * 2017-04-14 2017-09-05 特思锐能源科技(北京)有限责任公司 The separation method of oil and solid in oil-containing solids
CN107129823B (en) * 2017-04-14 2019-01-29 特思锐能源科技(北京)有限责任公司 The separation method of oil and solid in oil-containing solids

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