US4270609A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tar sand extraction process
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-09-12
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Granted: 1981-06-02
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Expires: 1999-09-12
Abstract
Abstract A method for separating and recovering bitumen from tar sand and other viscous petroleum deposits, either in situ or after mining the deposits. The method may also apply to heavy oil wells and to secondary and tertiary recovery of oils from wells. The tar sand is heated in an aqueous mixture of floating agent containing ammonia, a transfer agent containing a phosphate or silicate ion and a strong monovalent base. The bitumen rises to the surface of the mixture, without foaming or appreciable emulsification and will stay at the surface after cooling. Nearly clean sand remains in the bottom. Both an in situ separation technique and a process for recovering bitumen from mined tar sand are described using the aqueous mixture.
Inventors
- 👤 G. Lew Choules
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:57
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10C; C10C3/00; C10C3/007; C10G; C10G1/00; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/28; E21B43/281
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A process for separating bitumen from bitumen containing formations comprising: (a) contacting the bitumen containing formation with an aqueous solution containing an effective amount of a floating agent, an effective amount of a transfer agent and an effective amount of a strong monovalent base at an elevated temperature causing the bitumen to separate from inorganic materials contained in said formation and (b) separating the bitumen from the solution.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A process for separating bitumen from bitumen containing formations comprising: (a) contacting the bitumen containing formation with an aqueous solution containing an effective amount of a floating agent, an effective amount of a transfer agent and an effective amount of a strong monovalent base at an elevated temperature causing the bitumen to separate from inorganic materials contained in said formation and (b) separating the bitumen from the solution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the floating agent is an ammonium salt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the ammonium salt is a member selected from the group consisting of dibasic ammonium orthophosphate and monobasic ammonium orthophosphate and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the concentration of the ammonium salt is between about 0.1 and 20%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the strong monovalent base is a member selected from the group consisting of sodium, lithium, potassium and quaternary amine hydroxides having a concentration sufficient to maintain the pH of the aqueous solution at 10 or above and wherein the aqueous solution is at a temperature of from 40° C. to boiling.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the ammonium salt is dibasic ammonium orthophosphate and the strong monovalent base is sodium hydroxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein, the bitumen containing formation is a tar sand.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the bitumen is separated from the tar sand in situ.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein, the bitumen is separated from a tar sand which has been mined.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the transfer agent is a member selected from the group consisting of ortho and meta phosphates and silicates.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the strong monovalent base is a member selected from the group consisting of sodium, lithium, potassium and quaternary amine hydroxides.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the concentration of the strong monovalent base is sufficient to maintain the pH of the aqueous solution to 10 or above.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the temperature range is from 40° C. to boiling.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein the temperature is boiling.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the bitumen containing formation is a heavy oil well in which the recovery of oils is applicable and wherein the bitumen separation from the formation is carried out in situ.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the bitumen containing formation is an oil well in which the secondary or tertiary recovery of oil is applicable and wherein the bitumen separation from the formation is carried out in situ.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for the in situ separation of bitumen from a tar sand deposit which comprises: (a) injecting concurrently into the tar sand deposit steam and a heated aqueous solution containing effective amounts of (1) a floating agent, (2) a transfer agent and (3) a strong monovalent base (b) causing said steam and aqueous solution to liquify a portion of the tar sand deposit forming an in situ chamber containing the aqueous solution in which bitumen separates from the tar sand in the aqueous solution and (c) separating bitumen from the aqueous solution.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for the in situ separation of bitumen from a tar sand deposit which comprises: (a) injecting concurrently into the tar sand deposit steam and a heated aqueous solution containing effective amounts of (1) a floating agent, (2) a transfer agent and (3) a strong monovalent base (b) causing said steam and aqueous solution to liquify a portion of the tar sand deposit forming an in situ chamber containing the aqueous solution in which bitumen separates from the tar sand in the aqueous solution and (c) separating bitumen from the aqueous solution.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 17 in which steam and aqueous solution are added continuously and bitumen is continuously withdrawn.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-06-01 | 1984-12-01 | 1985-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-06-01 | 1988-12-01 | 1989-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-06-01 | 1992-12-01 | 1993-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |