Composition for Recovering Bitumen from Oil Sands

a technology of oil sands and compositions, applied in the direction of dissolving, mixing, chemistry apparatus and processes, etc., can solve the problems of complex physical and chemical changes that break the surface tension between hydrocarbons and water components, large amount of energy that is required for heating the hot water used for bitumen separation from the ore, and inactivity, etc., to achieve cost-benefit, increase the base rate of recovery, and increase the temperature and/or the amount of compositions employed

a technology of oil sands and compositions, applied in the direction of dissolving, mixing, chemistry apparatus and processes, etc., can solve the problems of complex physical and chemical changes that break the surface tension between hydrocarbons and water components, large amount of energy that is required for heating the hot water used for bitumen separation from the ore, and inactivity, etc., to achieve cost-benefit, increase the base rate of recovery, and increase the temperature and/or the amount of compositions employed

US20150083645A1Inactive Publication Date: 2015-03-26ECOCOMPOUNDS
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  • Composition for Recovering Bitumen from Oil Sands

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Embodiment Construction

[0033]The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide an improved and environmentally safe composition for recovering bitumen from oil sands.

[0034]As used herein, the term “about” means “approximately,” and, in any event, may indicate as much as a 10% deviation from the number being modified.

[0035]Process

[0036]As explained in more detail below the current composition is directly useable in the current CHWE process. However, it somewhat modifies the way in which the process attains its results. The most apparent differences and advantages are the need for much lower amounts of energy because the water temperature is much lower and the use of envir...

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Abstract

An improved composition for recovering bitumen from oil sands is used in the traditional “hot water” extraction process. An aliquot of a solvent mixture is mixed with bitumen ore and water. A pH builder is added and following mixing primary and secondary froths are recovered. The solvent mixture contains a monoterpene, nonionic surfactant, a short chain alcohol and a short chain ketone. Primary and secondary froth recovery is at least 80% at temperatures of about 35° C. Only very small amounts of solvent are used, and all solvents are biodegradable.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS[0001]Not applicable.U.S. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT[0002]Not applicable.BACKGROUND[0003]1. Area of the Art[0004][AREA OF ART][0005]2. Description of the Background[0006]Almost all of the energy used on our planet come ultimately from the Sun. Fossil fuels represent the photosynthetic products of long-dead photosynthetic organisms. Generally, fossils of macroscopic terrestrial organisms yield materials that range from peats to coals. Generally, microscopic marine and freshwater aquatic photosynthetic organisms have left us with “oil” or, more properly, petroleum. When aquatic photosynthetic organisms (“algae” and “zooplankton”) die and are entrapped in sediments, the organic matter is modified by heat and pressure and the resulting organic fluids migrate and become trapped by overlying geological structures to form “oil reservoirs” which can be tapped to form oil wells. However, large amounts of aquatic organic matter become deposited with clay minerals ...

Claims

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Application Information

Patent Timeline
26 Mar 2015
Publication
US20150083645A1
IPC
C10G1/04
CPC
C10G1/042; C10G1/04; C10G1/047
Inventors
CALVERT, DAVID AARON; FERNANDEZ, FRANZ RENE