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:
Nov. 02, 2010
Filed:
Sep. 08, 2006
Willem P. C. Duyvesteyn, Reno, NV (US);
Willem P. C. Duyvesteyn, Reno, NV (US);
Marathon Oil Canada Corporation, Calgary, Alberta, CA;
Abstract
A method for obtaining heavy oil is disclosed. The method includes mixing a material including heavy oil (e.g., oil sand) with a solvent including biodiesel to form a mixture and separating the mixture into a oil-enriched solvent phase and a residual sand phase. The method also can include introducing a solvent including biodiesel into an in-situ geological formation including heavy oil and collecting a mixture including biodiesel and heavy oil from the formation. For example, the mixture can be collected after the solvent travels through at least a portion of the formation by gravity. A method for producing biodiesel also is disclosed. The method includes microbially digesting asphaltenes to form a liquor including a fatty acid and reacting the fatty acid with an alcohol to produce biodiesel. This method can be used to convert petroleum asphaltenes and/or coal asphaltenes into biodiesel.