Primary froth recycle
US8062511B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 27, 2008 |
| Grant date | Nov 22, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 8, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB03B9/02
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process for extracting bitumen from oil sand, comprising: mixing oil sand with process water to produce an oil sand slurry containing bitumen, sand, water and entrained air; conditioning the oil sand slurry; optionally flooding the conditioned oil sand slurry with flood water to dilute the slurry, if required; introducing the slurry into a primary separation vessel wherein separate layers of primary bitumen froth, middlings and sand tailings are formed; removing a portion of the primary bitumen froth from the primary separation vessel and recycling the portion of primary bitumen froth to that step of the process upstream of the primary separation vessel to join and mix with the feed stream moving to the primary separation vessel; and thereafter retaining said feed stream in said primary separation vessel to produce primary bitumen froth.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.