Polyamine Additives for Bitumen Viscosity Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for bitumen recovery from oil sands, such as surface mining and in-situ recovery, are inefficient, costly, and environmentally problematic due to the viscous nature of bitumen, requiring large amounts of energy and water, and resulting in low oil recovery rates and environmental hazards.

Innovation Solution

The use of specific polyamines with a boiling point greater than 145° C, combined with steam and/or water, to reduce the viscosity of bitumen and enhance its recovery from oil sands through surface mining or in-situ processes, including Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD).

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional extraction methods (hot water extraction with NaOH) are used, then bitumen can be recovered from oil sands, but the recovery efficiency is low and environmental harm is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebitumen recovery efficiencyVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the extraction system by introducing polyamines with specific molecular weights (50-500 g/mol) and nitrogen content (40-70%). This chemical parameter change enables more effective bitumen recovery while reducing environmental harm compared to conventional NaOH-based extraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses polyamines as intermediary substances that mediate between the extraction system and bitumen. These polyamines act as surface-active agents that reduce interfacial tension and facilitate bitumen release from oil sands, improving recovery efficiency while being environmentally more benign than NaOH.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If steam injection temperature is increased to reduce bitumen viscosity, then bitumen流动性 improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebitumen流动性VSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces polyamines as intermediary substances that reduce bitumen viscosity without requiring high steam temperatures. The polyamines act as viscosity modifiers that interact with bitumen molecules, lowering viscosity through chemical interaction rather than thermal energy input, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining bitumen流动性.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the thermal mechanism (steam heating) with a chemical mechanism (polyamine interaction) for reducing bitumen viscosity. Instead of relying solely on thermal energy to decrease viscosity, the polyamines chemically interact with bitumen to achieve the same effect with lower energy input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If in-situ recovery methods (CSS, SAGD) are used for deep tar sands, then mining limitations are overcome, but oil recovery rates remain low (20-60%)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplicability to deep depositsVSAvoidoil recovery rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses polyamines as intermediary substances injected into deep tar sand deposits during in-situ recovery. These polyamines enhance the extraction efficiency by interacting with bitumen at the reservoir level, increasing recovery rates from the conventional 20-60% range while maintaining the adaptability of in-situ methods for deep deposits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite extraction systems combining steam/water with polyamines. This composite approach integrates thermal energy delivery with chemical enhancement, creating a synergistic effect that improves oil recovery rates in in-situ processes while maintaining applicability to deep tar sand deposits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method improves bitumen recovery efficiency, reduces environmental impact, and increases oil recovery rates by up to 88-95% in ex-situ processes and 40-60% in in-situ processes, while minimizing energy and water usage.

Implementation Method 1

specific polyamines... to reduce the viscosity of bitumen and enhance its recovery from oil sands

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscosity reduction:

Implementation Method 2

contacting bitumen with steam and/or water... to reduce the viscosity of bitumen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

contacting bitumen with steam and/or water... to enhance its recovery from oil sands

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS11834607B2Additives for enhanced extraction of bitumen

Publication Date: 2023.12.05 DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A method for recovering bitumen that includes contacting the bitumen with steam and/or water and an organic amine having a boiling point at one atmosphere of greater than 145° C. and recovering the bitumen. The bitumen can be in oil sands, where the step of contacting includes contacting the oil sands having bitumen with the steam and/or water and the organic amine. Contacting the bitumen with the steam and/or water and the organic amine and recovering the bitumen can be done in-situ in a subterranean formation.