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US4125459A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Hydrocarbon solvent treatment of bituminous materials

Assignee: Kerr McGee Corp
•
Filing: 1977-12-19
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Granted: 1978-11-14
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Expires: 1997-12-19
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Abstract

Abstract This invention relates to the production of oils of specified higher quality at the same yield or to the production of a higher yield of oils of the same quality from a bituminous material by a combination of propane and pentane deasphalting than would otherwise be obtainable by utilizing either propane or pentane deasphalting processes alone. This is effected by subjecting the bituminous material first to a pentane deasphalting process to produce a light fraction containing resins and oils, followed by a propane deasphalting process on the resin-oil fraction previously obtained and the recycle of at least a portion of the resins fraction back to the pentane deasphalting process. Alternatively, this is effected by subjecting the bituminous material first to a propane deasphalting process to produce a heavy fraction containing asphaltenes and resins, followed by a pentane deasphalting process on the asphaltene-resin fraction previously obtained and recycle of at least a portion of the resins fraction back to the propane deasphalting process. The oil thus produced is obtained in higher quality at the same yield or in higher yield at the same quality by virtue of the ability to cut deeper into the residuum than otherwise would be possible.

Inventors

  • 👤 Leo Garwin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 22:55
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G1/00; C10G1/04; C10C; C10C3/00; C10C3/08

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 148 words
In the process which comprises treating a bituminous material to separate same into at least two fractions by contacting said bituminous material with a first solvent in a first treating zone at elevated temperature and pressure to cause said bituminous material to separate into a first light fraction and withdrawing the first light fraction and the first heavy fraction for recovery, and then contacting at least a portion of said first heavy fraction with a second solvent in a second treating zone at an elevated temperature and pressure to cause said first heavy fraction to separate into a second light fraction comprising substantially oils and resins and a second heavy fraction which are withdrawn separately for recovery, the improvement which comprises: recycling at least a portion of the second light fraction to the first treating zone to separate and recover additional high quality oils from the bituminous material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 148 words
In the process which comprises treating a bituminous material to separate same into at least two fractions by contacting said bituminous material with a first solvent in a first treating zone at elevated temperature and pressure to cause said bituminous material to separate into a first light fraction and withdrawing the first light fraction and the first heavy fraction for recovery, and then contacting at least a portion of said first heavy fraction with a second solvent in a second treating zone at an elevated temperature and pressure to cause said first heavy fraction to separate into a second light fraction comprising substantially oils and resins and a second heavy fraction which are withdrawn separately for recovery, the improvement which comprises: recycling at least a portion of the second light fraction to the first treating zone to separate and recover additional high quality oils from the bituminous material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 110 words
The process of claim 1 in which: the first solvent is propane and the first treating zone is maintained at a temperature level in the range of from about 125°-200° F. and a pressure level at least equal to the actual or extrapolated vapor pressure of the first solvent at its highest temperature in the first treating zone; and the second solvent is pentane and the second treating zone is maintained at a temperature level in the range of from about 350°-425° F. and a pressure level at least equal to the actual or extrapolated vapor pressure of the second solvent at its highest temperature in the second treating zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 156 words
In the process which comprises treating a bituminous material to separate same into at least two fractions by contacting said bituminous material with a first solvent in a first treating zone at elevated temperature and pressure to cause said bituminous material to separate into a first light fraction and a first heavy fraction comprising substantially asphaltenes and withdrawing the first light fraction and the first heavy fraction for recovery, and then contacting at least a portion of said first light fraction with a second solvent in a second treating zone at an elevated temperature and pressure to cause said first light fraction to separate into a second light fraction comprising substantially oils and a second heavy fraction comprising resins which are withdrawn separately for recovery, the improvement which comprises: recycling at least a portion of the second heavy fraction to the first treating zone to separate and recover additional high quality oils from the bituminous material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 156 words
In the process which comprises treating a bituminous material to separate same into at least two fractions by contacting said bituminous material with a first solvent in a first treating zone at elevated temperature and pressure to cause said bituminous material to separate into a first light fraction and a first heavy fraction comprising substantially asphaltenes and withdrawing the first light fraction and the first heavy fraction for recovery, and then contacting at least a portion of said first light fraction with a second solvent in a second treating zone at an elevated temperature and pressure to cause said first light fraction to separate into a second light fraction comprising substantially oils and a second heavy fraction comprising resins which are withdrawn separately for recovery, the improvement which comprises: recycling at least a portion of the second heavy fraction to the first treating zone to separate and recover additional high quality oils from the bituminous material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 118 words
The process of claim 3 in which: the first solvent is pentane and the first treating zone is maintained at a temperature level in the range of from about 350° F. to about 425° F. and a pressure level at least equal to the actual or extrapolated vapor pressure of the first solvent at its highest temperature in the first treating zone; and the second solvent is propane and the second treating zone is maintained at a temperature level in the range of from about 125° F. to about 200° F. and a pressure level at least equal to the actual or extrapolated vapor pressure of the second solvent at its highest temperature in the second treating zone.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

CA531130A Cited
US1988713A Cited
GB466524A Cited
US2500757A Cited
GB884229A Cited
US3627675A Cited
US3779902A Cited
US3775292A Cited
US3830732A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-11-13 1982-05-15 1982-11-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-11-13 1986-05-15 1986-11-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-11-13 1990-05-15 1990-11-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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