The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 19, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 16, 1998
Willem P Duyvesteyn, Reno, NV (US);
Julia Rose Budden, Reno, NV (US);
Merijn Amilcare Picavet, Delft, NL;
BHP Minerals International Inc., Reno, NV (US);
Abstract
A process for the extraction of bitumen from bitumen froth generated from tar sands is disclosed. In this process, bitumen froth is extracted from tar sands using a water process without requiring the use of caustic soda. The froth is treated in a counter-current decantation circuit with a paraffinic solvent to remove precipitated asphaltenes, water, and solids from the bitumen froth. A dilute bitumen product is produced having final water and solids contents of about 0.01 to about 1% by weight. This renders the dilute bitumen product amenable to direct hydrocracking. The process provides an alternative route to the conventional process of utilizing centrifuges to separate bitumen from precipitated asphaltenes, water, and solids and thus avoids the high capital and operating costs associated with the conventional bitumen froth treatment by centrifugation. The invention utilizes bitumen froth produced from a water process in which the use of caustic soda is not required. The process advantageously avoids the production of tailings sludges caused by clay dispersions. The present invention also teaches a novel process for the biotreatment of bitumen froth tailings resulting in a reduced amount of waste products and waste byproducts.
Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile