Process For Recovering Solvent From Ashphaltene Containing Tailings Resulting From A Separation Process

a technology of asphaltene and solvent, which is applied in the field of process for recovering solvent from asphaltene containing tailings resulting from separation process, and recovering paraffinic solvent from such tailings, which can solve problems such as processing affecting

Inactive Publication Date: 2010-05-27
EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RES CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one disadvantage of previous processes.

Problems solved by technology

The process may be affected in the absence of mechanical means used to substantially break up asphaltene agglomerates or to prevent the agglomeration of asphaltene.

Method used

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  • Process For Recovering Solvent From Ashphaltene Containing Tailings Resulting From A Separation Process
  • Process For Recovering Solvent From Ashphaltene Containing Tailings Resulting From A Separation Process

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example 1

[0043]In a small scale pilot test, a run was operated at about atmospheric pressure without shearing or agitation in or around TSRU (16) with internals (46) and successfully resulted in solvent loss of less than 2.8 bbl per thousand barrels of bitumen product (6). The addition of steam resulted in a further reduction to less than 1.0 bbl of solvent loss per thousand barrels of bitumen product. A typical TSRU (16) tailings (34) sample was then subjected laboratory scale vacuum separation tests to simulate the performance of the second stage TSRU (36). These results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1Solvent Recovery PerformancePressureAverage solventSolvent Loss (bbl / (atm · abs)content (wt %)1000 bbls of bitumen)1.000.0281.180.790.0240.970.590.0150.63

[0044]Pumps are used to maintain a specified level in each TSRU and the vessels are sized to maintain a high downward velocity of the slurry.

[0045]As discussed herein, it has been discovered that recovery of solvent from asphaltene agglomerates...

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Abstract

A process for recovering paraffinic solvent from tailings produced in the treatment of bitumen froth comprising introducing the tailings into a tailings solvent recovery unit (TSRU), the TSRU having internals, and distributing the tailings over the internals. An inert gas or steam is then introduced below the internals and above the liquid pool for enhancing the vaporization of the contained solvent. Solvent is vaporized from asphaltene agglomerates. In one embodiment, the process is affected in the absence of mechanical means used to substantially break up asphaltene agglomerates or to prevent the agglomeration of asphaltene. In another aspect, the process comprises introducing the tailings into a first TSRU as described above and then into a second TSRU operated at a lower pressure. In another aspect, internals are optionally present and steam or inert gas is injected in the liquid pool.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of Canadian patent application number 2,587,166 which was filed on May 3, 2007.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to an improved process for recovering solvent from asphaltene containing tailings resulting from a separation process. More particularly, the invention relates to recovering paraffinic solvent from such tailings.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The extraction of bitumen from mined oil sands involves the liberation and separation of bitumen from the associated sands in a form that is suitable for further processing to produce a marketable product. Among several processes for bitumen extraction, the Clark Hot Water Extraction (CHWE) process represents a well-developed commercial recovery technique. In the CHWE process, mined oil sands are mixed with hot water to create slurry suitable for extraction. Caustic is added to adjust the slurry pH to a desired level a...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): C10G73/02
CPCC10G1/045
Inventor SURY, KEN
Owner EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RES CO
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