US4174263A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recovery of bitumen from tar sands
Assignee: Standard Oil Co
•
Filing: 1978-06-28
•
Granted: 1979-11-13
•
Expires: 1998-06-28
Abstract
Abstract Bitumen is separated from tar sands by contacting the tar sands with a small amount of liquid, heating the liquid treated tar sands to expand the liquid as a vapor thereby reducing the density of the bitumen and separating the bitumen from the remainder of the tar sands on the basis of density.
Inventors
- 👤 Franklin Veatch
- 👤 Harvey E. Alford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:12
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G1/00; C10G1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
In a process for the recovery of bitumen from tar sands wherein bitumen is separated from the remainder of the tar sands by a floatation technique, the improvement comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the tar sands with from 0.01 to 0.1 weight percent based on the weight of the tar sands of a liquid halogenated hydrocarbon that is able to at least partially penetrate the bitumen to form liquid treated tar sands; (b) vaporizing at least some of the liquid halogenated hydrocarbon treated tar sands to produce a closed cell foam of the bitumen, whereby the vapor in the bitumen is entrapped, thereby reducing the density of the bitumen; and (c) separating the bitumen from the remainder of the tar sands by floatation whereby there is employed the step of mixing the liquid halogenated hydrocarbon treated tar sands with an aqueous alkaline solution to condition the tar sands prior to said floatation step.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a process for the recovery of bitumen from tar sands wherein bitumen is separated from the remainder of the tar sands by a floatation technique, the improvement comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the tar sands with from 0.01 to 0.1 weight percent based on the weight of the tar sands of a liquid halogenated hydrocarbon that is able to at least partially penetrate the bitumen to form liquid treated tar sands; (b) vaporizing at least some of the liquid halogenated hydrocarbon treated tar sands to produce a closed cell foam of the bitumen, whereby the vapor in the bitumen is entrapped, thereby reducing the density of the bitumen; and (c) separating the bitumen from the remainder of the tar sands by floatation whereby there is employed the step of mixing the liquid halogenated hydrocarbon treated tar sands with an aqueous alkaline solution to condition the tar sands prior to said floatation step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the steps (a) and (c) are conducted simultaneously.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid halogenated hydrocarbon is chloroform.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3203888A
Cited
US3401110A
Cited
US3542666A
Cited
US3573196A
Cited
US3573195A
Cited
US3941679A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-11-12 | 1983-05-14 | 1983-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-12 | 1987-05-14 | 1987-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-12 | 1991-05-14 | 1991-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |