Tar sands extraction process
A process for the extraction of oil from tar sands consists of contacting the tar sand in an extraction zone with a paraffinic hydrocarbon solvent having from 5 to 9 carbon atoms at a ratio of from 2 to 10 parts solvent per part of bitumen present in the tar sand. The asphaltene fraction of the tar sands is kept in suspension. A major portion of the solution is separated from the extracted sand. The sand is passed along with a minor portion of the solution into a water-contacting zone. The sand is contacted with sufficient water at a temperature of at least 100/sup 0/F to separate substantially all the bitumen and solvent from it. The solvent is separated from the suspended asphaltenes and is distilled to recover the bitumen. In a preferred embodiment, the extract from the water-contacting zone is centrifuged to separate fines and water from the bitumen and solvent. (7 claims)
- Assignee:
- Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4036732
- OSTI ID:
- 6553017
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
040400* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Oil Production
Recovery
& Refining
ALKANES
ASPHALTENES
ASPHALTS
BITUMENS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CENTRIFUGATION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DESIGN
DISTILLATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
OIL SANDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENTS
TAR
WATER