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Pentane-hexane solvent in situ recovery of heavy oil

  • US 8,844,639 B2
  • Filed: 02/24/2012
  • Issued: 09/30/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of recovering heavy oil or bitumen from a reservoir under a gravity-dominated recovery process comprising:

  • fractionating a diluent comprising pentane and hexane into fractions comprising a pentane-hexane fraction and an abridged diluent fraction;

    preparing a pentane-hexane solvent comprising the pentane-hexane fraction;

    injecting the pentane-hexane solvent into the reservoir as part of the gravity-dominated recovery process;

    producing heavy oil or bitumen and recovered pentane-hexane solvent from the reservoir, said heavy oil or bitumen and said recovered pentane-hexane solvent together comprising a produced heavy oil or bitumen blend; and

    combining the abridged diluent fraction and the produced heavy oil or bitumen blend to provide a blended oil.

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