PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS FOR SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF BITUMEN FROM OIL SANDS

摘要

A process is described for extracting bitumen from bituminous feed, comprising fractionating hydrocarbon fluid into lighter and heavier fractions; extracting feed with the lighter fraction as solvent, producing solvent diluted bitumen; and combining the heavier fraction with solvent diluted bitumen to form a high grade product. Extracting may involve combining the feed and first solvent as an initial slurry which is separated into fine and coarse streams; agglomerating the fine stream to form an agglomerated slurry comprising agglomerates and a low solids bitumen extract; separating the extract therefrom; mixing a second solvent with the low solids bitumen extract to form a low solids mixture, the second solvent having a similar or lower boiling point than the first; separating the mixture into high and low grade bitumen extracts; and recovering solvent from the high grade extract, leaving high grade bitumen product. The first or second solvent may comprise the lighter fraction.