Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company

Exxon Research and Engineering Company

Mary Josephine Gale

Lyle Edwin Moran

John Brownie

Ramesh Varadaraj

Biddanda U Achia

Pavel Kriz

James David Bell

Daniel Grant

Methods are provided for making asphalt mix composition from mixtures of binder, aggregate, and tailings derived from a solvent froth treatment performed to recover bitumen from mined oil sands. The tailings derived from the solvent froth treatment can be used to replace at least a portion of the small particles in the aggregate used for forming the asphalt mix composition.

Asphalt composition including fine particles from bitumen recovery

Methods are provided for making asphalt from crude oils derived from mined oil sands that have been subjected to a solvent froth treatment as part of the process for making a crude oil that is suitable for pipeline transport. A froth treatment is used that preserves a greater percentage of the asphaltene content of the crude oil derived from the mined oil sands.

Asphalt production from oil sand bitumen

A novel composition is provided that incorporates the residual solids from solvent deasphalting to make a high value asphalt product. A process for making the asphalt composition is also provided. A first portion of heavy oil or another feedstock can be deasphalted using propane deasphalting or another suitable deasphalting process. This generates a solvated fraction and an insoluble deasphalting residue. The deasphalting residue is then added to a second portion of heavy oil, such as a second portion of the same type of heavy oil that was used as feedstock in the solvent deasphalting. The mixture of deasphalting residue and heavy oil results in a novel dispersion that is suitable for use as an asphalt. Optionally, an additive such as an alkyl substituted aromatic sulfonic acid can be added to the composition to further improve the asphalt properties.

Upgrading deasphalting residue to high performance asphalt

Methods are provided for forming an asphalt fraction corresponding to a blend of asphalts, the asphalt fraction having at least one property that is unexpectedly better than the expected property value based on the individual asphalts used in the blend. The unexpectedly beneficial blends of asphalts are formed in part by including an effective amount of a Napo crude oil or crude fraction in the feed used to form the asphalt fraction. For some asphalt blends, including an effective amount of a Napo crude in the feed can allow for production of an asphalt with a low temperature performance grade that is lower than the predicted value by at least 0.5&#xb0; C., such as at least 0.75&#xb0; C. or at least 1.0&#xb0; C.

Synergistic asphalt crude compositions

Methods are provided for upgrading asphaltene-depleted crude fractions. The asphaltene-depleted crude fractions are upgraded by oxidizing the crude fractions by air blowing. Upgrading an asphaltene-depleted crude fraction can allow more valuable grades of asphalt to be formed from the crude fraction. Alternatively, upgrading an asphaltene-depleted crude fraction can allow for incorporation of a greater percentage of such a crude fraction in a blend of crudes that are used for making a desired grade of asphalt.

Upgrading of asphaltene-depleted crudes

Disclosed is a high performance asphalt comprising a mixture of low to moderate performance asphalt with linear or branch chain alkyl substituted aromatic sulfonic acid. The high performance asphalt is made by mixing the low to moderate performance asphalt with 1 to 10 wt % linear or branched chain C&#x2013;Calkyl substituted aromatic sulfonic acid at a temperature of 175&#xb0; C. and less.

High performance asphalt using alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid asphaltene dispersants

The invention relates to a method for making an asphalt product having an enhanced flash point and lower volatility, comprising vacuum distilling a blend of a high boiling petroleum fraction having an initial boiling point of at least 270&deg; C. and a crude to produce a product asphalt having a flash of from 265&deg; C. to 300&deg; C.

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Lambton Shore, Canada

Mary Josephine Gale