Eureka AIR delivers breakthrough ideas for toughest innovation challenges, trusted by R&D personnel around the world.

Method for Recovering Hydrocarbon from Tar Sand Using Nanofluid

a technology of nanofluid and hydrocarbon, which is applied in the field of recovery of tar or tarlike hydrocarbons from tar sands, can solve the problems of large amount of energy required, carbon dioxide and other gases then become emission, and the surface and subsurface recovery is a major challenge, so as to increase the release of bitumen from the sand

Inactive Publication Date: 2012-10-11
FTS INT SERVICES
View PDF3 Cites 75 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]A solution containing nanoparticles in water is provided to contact a tar sand to increase release of bitumen from the sand. The solution may also contain a solvent and other water-wetting surfactants.

Problems solved by technology

There are formidable challenges to both surface and subsurface recovery.
Large amounts of energy are required to heat the sand or reservoir.
Emission of carbon dioxide and other gases then becomes one of the challenges.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Method for Recovering Hydrocarbon from Tar Sand Using Nanofluid
  • Method for Recovering Hydrocarbon from Tar Sand Using Nanofluid
  • Method for Recovering Hydrocarbon from Tar Sand Using Nanofluid

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0015]Surface separation facilities for mining operations are well known. See, for example, a description of mining operations at www.mining-technology.com / projects / Syncrude. Oil sand is mixed with hot water and caustic soda in tumblers, forming a slurry and conditioning the oil sand for bitumen separation. It is then discharged onto vibrating screens where large material is rejected and the blended slurry is fed into primary separation vessels, where bitumen froth floats to the top and sand sinks. The sand is further treated with surfactants to separate more bitumen. Improved water wetting of the sand by a surfactant solution will increase rate of bitumen removal and total recovery. This can be accomplished by adding nanoparticles as disclosed herein to the prior art surfactant solutions or by adding the nanoparticle-surfactant solutions disclosed herein to the water used to remove bitumen from sand in surface facilities.

[0016]FIG. 1 is a sketch illustrating fluid flow in reservoir...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

PropertyMeasurementUnit
sizeaaaaaaaaaa
temperatureaaaaaaaaaa
sizeaaaaaaaaaa
Login to View More

Abstract

Method for recovery of bitumen from tar sand is provided. An aqueous fluid containing a wetting agent and nanoparticles is injected into a first horizontal well at a temperature above reservoir temperature. Bitumen is released from sand grains and flows into a second horizontal well, where it is transported to surface. In a surface treatment facility, a slurry of tar sand is formed and surfactant and nanoparticles are added to the slurry.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates to recovery of tar or tar-like hydrocarbons from tar sands. More particularly, a wetting agent including nanoparticles in water is used to increase separation of the hydrocarbons from the sand.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]“Tar sands” or “oil sands” are typically about 10% bitumen, 83% silica sand, 3% clay and 4% water, but the composition can vary widely. Bitumen is made up of large, carbon-rich and hydrogen-poor molecules, and is a semi-solid or solid at room temperature.[0005]Production of bitumen from oil sands has been dominated by two processes. The first is based on mining, where relatively thin overburden allows open pit mines of the oil sands. The sand-and-bitumen mixture is removed from open pits and transferred to a tar sand treatment facility, where it is commonly placed in hot water containing surfactants to form a slurry. Air is injected into the slurry, so that air bubbles at...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): C10G1/04E21B43/24
CPCC10G1/047C10G2300/807E21B43/2406C10G2300/805C10G2300/80
Inventor HOLMS, BRADFORD A.HOLCOMB, DAVID L.
Owner FTS INT SERVICES
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Eureka Blog
Learn More
PatSnap group products

Browse by: Latest US Patents, China's latest patents, Technical Efficacy Thesaurus, Application Domain, Technology Topic, Popular Technical Reports.

© 2024 PatSnap. All rights reserved.Legal|Privacy policy|Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement|Sitemap|About US| Contact US: help@patsnap.com