Method for treating bitumen froth with high bitumen recovery and dual quality bitumen production
US8114274B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 21, 2008 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 11, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC10G2300/802
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process for removing contaminants, namely water and particulate solids, from hydrocarbon diluent-diluted bitumen froth (“dilfroth”) is provided to produce hydrocarbon diluent-diluted bitumen (“dilbit”), comprising subjecting the dilfroth to gravity settling in a primary settler to produce an overflow stream of primary raw dilbit, comprising bitumen containing water and some fine solids, and an underflow stream of primary tails, comprising solids, water and residual bitumen; removing the overflow stream of primary raw dilbit and subjecting it to gravity settling in a clarifier vessel for sufficient time to produce an overflow first stream of cleaned dilbit and an underflow stream of clarifier sludge; diluting the primary tails with hydrocarbon diluent and subjecting the diluted primary tails to gravity settling in a secondary settler to produce an overflow second stream of cleaned dilbit and an underflow stream of secondary tails; and removing the clarifier sludge and diluting the clarifier sludge with a hydrocarbon diluent, if necessary, and subjecting the clarifier sludge to gravity separation to produce a third stream of cleaned dilbit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.