Other

Gary C Brimhall

John B Fairbanks

A process for the solvent separation of hydrocarbons from tar sand or contaminated soils comprises extracting the hydrocarbons from the sand or soil in a solvent extraction means to form a hydrocarbon rich solvent solution. The rich solvent is separated from the hydrocarbon in a process that utilizes flashing of the solvent in a heated flashing column at ambient pressure. The hydrocarbon is withdrawn from the bottom of the column and the flashed solvent vapors are strategicly withdrawn and passed into a condensation column from which the condensed solvent may be recycled. The flashing column is divided by a series of horizontal, vertically aligned apertured trays. The solution is introduced into the top of the column and the flashing operation is facilitated by the increase in the surface area of the solution as it flows by gravity from tray to tray. The column is maintained at a temperature, preferably above the boiling temperature of the solvent. The process is particularly adapted to the use of chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents and most particularly to the use of methylene chloride.

Solvent extraction of hydrocarbons from inorganic materials and solvent recovery from extracted hydrocarbons

Process, structure, and aqueous bath for recovering oil from tar sand, known also simply as oil sand. The process includes the steps of passing the tar sand through, or subjecting the same to a diluent, to reduce the internal fluid friction or viscosity of the oil layers surrounding each sand particle, and then bringing together the 'sand', i.e. the sand particle plus its thinned oil layer, and an aqueous bath having a slightly raised specific gravity and also a wetting agent. The purpose for the wetting agent is to allow the sand particles to fall to the bottom of the processing tank as sludge. The raised specific gravity of the water, which is still substantially less than that of sea water, by the Archimedes' principle, causes the released globules or droplets of oil to be accelerated rapidly to the surface of the water, thereby escaping recapture or admixture with the descending sand particles. The now dilute oil is recovered, separated, and the diluent is reused in the tank. In-situ recovery by the above process and bath is likewise practicable.

Process and fluid media for treatment of tar sands to recover oil

Apparatus for processing tar sands to recover bitumen therefrom, and without the use of heat of steam, such apparatus including a processing tank having a concave, upwardly facing bottom constructed for receiving the upper flight of an endless conveyor thereat. Structure is provided for admitting tar sands onto the feed end of such conveyor and for discharging the same at the discharge end thereof. Stirrer means are provided as needed, above the endless conveyor, for maintaining in solution the very fine tar sand particles, this to effect as efficient a recovery of oil therefrom as possible. A baffle is constructed to separate recovered oil, disposed as a layer over the aqueous bath of the tank, from the discharge end of the tank and the spent sands coming upwardly thereat. In one embodiment the processing tank is constructed for towing by a vehicle and, in another embodiment, the bottom of the tank is constructed to separately contain diluent for pre-processing the tar sands to be fed into the main tank proper.

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Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Gary C Brimhall