Compositions and methods for extracting hydrocarbons from oil sands

Abstract

PEG lipids are used to extract hydrocarbons from oil sands. At ambient temperatures the PEG lipids combine with bitumen onto a flowable form, which is easily transportable by pipeline. The process results in the release of less carbon dioxide than conventional extraction processes.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 840,789 entitled “Nanotechnology for spilled oil encapsulation, remediation and recovery” filed Aug. 28, 2006.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to cleaning oil contaminations and to extracting hydrocarbons from oil sands. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Part A: Oil Contamination [0003] The environmental and health effects of the average 3,000 oil spills annually worldwide have untoward consequences. An environmentally friendly solution to clean up these spills could have tremendous value to both the geographic region and the biological habitat where the spill occurs. A non-toxic, nano-scale solution to cleaning up petroleum spills both on land and in water is described. Part B: Extraction of Hydrocarbons from Oil Sands [0004] Oils sands contain a large amount of the world's potential oil reserves. Oil-sand, also called tar sand, is an earthy, dark gray s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0031] An additional advantage of the invention is that the flowable PEG lipid-bitumen combination is more easily transportable than bitumen extracted by current means.

[0032] After a single extraction, some bitumen remains with the clay and sand fractions. Additional hydrocarbons may be extracted by further PEG lipid treatment. Such treatment may be done in steps or continuously.

[0033] As a final step, the addition of ambient temperature water to the mixture of liquid will wash the sand and clay of remaining PEG lipid and most of the bitumen. As water is added the PEG lipid forms nano-sized vesicles. As the vesicles form they encapsulate the lipid soluble bitumen in the interior of the vesicles and remove the bitumen from the pores of the sand particles. The vesicle / water / bitumen fraction is pumped to a processing station to distill off the water.

[0034] Mixing and / or heating enhance the rate of conversion of hydrocarbons into a flowable form. In practice, heating may be most advantageous during in situ mining, and mixing may be most advantageous when the oil sands are excavated and the extraction process is performed above ground. The mixing may include grinding the oil sand into particles to provide more surface area for the oil sand to interact with the extraction polymer.

[0035] The method is useful when the oil sands have been extracted to an above ground location. A particular advantage of above ground extraction is that the oil sand is more easily ground into particles, preferably fine particles.

[0036] This method can also be used for the in situ reserve extraction of bitumen from sand. Challenges facing current in situ process are efficient recoveries, management of water used to make steam, and co-generation of all (otherwise waste) heat sources to minimize energy costs.

Problems solved by technology

The environmental and health effects of the average 3,000 oil spills annually worldwide have untoward consequences.

At the same time, it is both greasy and grainy to the touch.

However, in the Northern Canadian oil sand fields it is trapped in the sand and clay and does not flow at ambient ground temperatures, all of which makes it difficult and expensive to extract.

Even in warmer climates, bitumen is difficult to extract from oil sands.

The current methods result in high fuel consumption and high carbon dioxide emissions.

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