Treatment of Athabasca tar sands froth

Patent · Tue Jul 18 04:00:00 EDT 1967

OSTI ID:6365480

Canevari, G P; Fiocco, R J

In this process for the recovery of bitumen from tar sands, the tar sands are mixed with water at a temperature in the range from about 140 to 200/sup 0/F in an initial stage under conditions to segregate sand and a froth consisting of water, solids and bitumen. The froth is separated from the initial stage and countercurrently contacted in a secondary stage with additional water at a temperature in the range of about 160 to 200/sup 0/F to remove additional solids. Thereafter, the froth is contacted at a temperature ranging from about 120 to 190/sup 0/F in a third stage with a chemical mixture consisting of a demulsifying agent, a transfer agent, a chelating agent and a hydrocarbon solvent whereby an oil phase separates which is substantially free of solids. (6 claims)

• Assignee: Esso Research and Engineering Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3331765
• OSTI ID: 6365480
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040402* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Surface Methods
ADDITIVES
BITUMENS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHELATING AGENTS
DEMULSIFIERS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
MIXTURES
OIL SANDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENTS
TAR
WATER