BITUMEN FROTH TREATING PROCESS
First Claim
1. A process for treating a bitumen froth comprising bitumen, solid mineral material and water, the process comprising:
- (a) subjecting a first mixture comprising the bitumen froth and a first amount of a paraffinic solvent to first gravity separation in a first gravity separation apparatus, thereby producing a first overflow stream and a first underflow stream, wherein the first mixture has a first solvent to bitumen ratio, wherein the first mixture is comprised of first mixture asphaltenes, and wherein the first gravity separation is performed so that the first underflow stream is comprised of between 5 percent and 40 percent of the first mixture asphaltenes by weight; and
(b) subjecting a second mixture comprising the first underflow stream and a second amount of the paraffinic solvent to second gravity separation in a second gravity separation apparatus, wherein the second mixture has a second solvent to bitumen ratio and wherein the second solvent to bitumen ratio is greater than the first solvent to bitumen ratio, thereby producing a second overflow stream and a second underflow stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process for treating a bitumen froth containing bitumen, solid mineral material and water, including subjecting a first mixture containing the bitumen froth and a first amount of a paraffinic solvent to first gravity separation, thereby producing a first overflow stream and a first underflow stream, wherein the first gravity separation is performed so that the first underflow stream contains between about 5 percent and about 40 percent by weight of the asphaltenes contained in the first mixture. A second mixture containing the first underflow stream and a second amount of the paraffinic solvent is subjected to second gravity separation in order to recover bitumen from the first underflow stream.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A process for treating a bitumen froth comprising bitumen, solid mineral material and water, the process comprising:
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(a) subjecting a first mixture comprising the bitumen froth and a first amount of a paraffinic solvent to first gravity separation in a first gravity separation apparatus, thereby producing a first overflow stream and a first underflow stream, wherein the first mixture has a first solvent to bitumen ratio, wherein the first mixture is comprised of first mixture asphaltenes, and wherein the first gravity separation is performed so that the first underflow stream is comprised of between 5 percent and 40 percent of the first mixture asphaltenes by weight; and (b) subjecting a second mixture comprising the first underflow stream and a second amount of the paraffinic solvent to second gravity separation in a second gravity separation apparatus, wherein the second mixture has a second solvent to bitumen ratio and wherein the second solvent to bitumen ratio is greater than the first solvent to bitumen ratio, thereby producing a second overflow stream and a second underflow stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification