In situ separation of bitumen from bitumen-bearing deposits
US4372383A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 1981 |
| Grant date | Feb 8, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/40
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method for in situ separation of bitumen from bitumen-bearing subterranean deposits includes the step of injecting a solvent composition into the deposit. The solvent composition must have an inverse critical solution temperature in a two-phase system with water and be selected from a particular group of amines that includes triethylamine and diisopropylamine. When the solvent composition contacts the bitumen in the deposit, the bitumen is dissolved by the solvent. Thereafter, the bitumen/solvent mixture is removed and separated into a bitumen component and a solvent component. The bitumen is thereafter processed to yield a usable petroleum product.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.