Non-aqueous hydrocarbon recovery

摘要

The present invention relates to in situ methods of separating, refining and extracting hydrocarbons from an oil formation. In embodiments of the present invention the in situ methods includes: (a) making a perforation in the oil sand formation, (b) disposing a non-polar substance into the perforation without addition of polar fluid, (c) subjecting the non-polar fluid composition disposed in the perforation to ultrasonic vibrations, and (d) extracting the hydrocarbon from the perforation in the oil sand formation. The present invention relates also to methods of separating, refining and extracting hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon matrices such as oil sand or oil shale.

主权项

1. An in situ method of extracting hydrocarbons from an oil formation comprising bitumen, wherein said method comprises:
(a) if there is any excess water, removing the excess water in a well bore in the oil formation, (b) disposing a nonpolar ultrasonic medium that consists essentially of pentane into the well bore in the oil formation to allow the non-polar ultrasonic medium to contact the hydrocarbons in the oil formation, (c) placing an ultrasonic transducer in direct contact with the ultrasonic medium which in turn is in direct contact with the hydrocarbons in the oil formation and subjecting the ultrasonic medium in contact with the hydrocarbons in the oil formation to ultrasonic vibrations, while keeping a temperature of the non-polar ultrasonic medium below 160 degrees Centigrade, and (d) extracting the hydrocarbons from the well bore in the oil formation, wherein the non-polar ultrasonic medium, and wherein the extracted hydrocarbons contain more C6 and C12 alkane species and less C9 and C20 alkane species relative to the hydrocarbons in the oil formation.