METHOD FOR EXTRACTING BITUMEN FROM AN AGED OIL SANDS ORE STREAM

摘要

The present invention provides a method for extracting bitumen from an aged oil sands ore stream, the method comprising at least the steps of: (a) providing an aged oil sands ore stream, the oil sands ore stream containing connate water; (b) contacting the aged oil sands ore stream with a solvent thereby obtaining a solvent-diluted oil sand slurry; (c) filtering the solvent-diluted oil sand slurry obtained in step (b), thereby obtaining a solids-depleted stream and a solids-enriched stream; (d) removing solvent from the solids-depleted stream obtained in step (c) thereby obtaining a bitumen-enriched stream; wherein the solvent as used in step (b) comprises a non-aqueous solvent; and wherein the connate water in the aged oil sands ore stream as provided in step (a) has a sulphate concentration of at least 50 ppmv, as determined by ASTM D516.