Propane process for producing crude oil and bitumen products

摘要

Disclosed are processes for producing bitumen-derived crude oil and heavy bitumen compositions from oil sand. The processes involve treating oil sand feedstock with a first hydrocarbon solvent comprised of propane to produce the bitumen-derived crude oil composition having an asphaltene content of not greater than 5 wt % pentane insoluble, and an oil-depleted oil sand. The oil-depleted oil sand is treated with a second hydrocarbon solvent comprised of propane and a fraction of the bitumen-derived crude oil composition to produce the heavy bitumen composition and oil sand tailings. The oil sand tailings are dried by contacting the tailings with a drying composition comprised of a majority of propane.

主权项

1. A process for producing a bitumen-derived crude oil composition and a heavy bitumen composition from an oil sand feedstock, comprising:
treating the oil sand feedstock with a first hydrocarbon solvent to produce the bitumen-derived crude oil composition and an oil-depleted oil sand, wherein the oil sand feedstock is comprised of at least 6 wt % bitumen, based on total weight of the oil sand, and the first hydrocarbon solvent is comprised of a majority of propane; separating the bitumen-derived crude oil composition from the oil-depleted oil sand, wherein the bitumen-derived crude oil composition has an asphaltene content of not greater than 5 wt % pentane insolubles measured according to ASTM D4055-04, and the oil-depleted oil sand contains less bitumen than that on the oil sand feedstock; treating the oil-depleted oil sand with a second hydrocarbon solvent to produce the heavy bitumen composition and oil sand tailings, wherein the second hydrocarbon solvent is comprised of propane and a fraction of the bitumen-derived crude oil composition; and contacting the oil sand tailings with a drying composition comprised of a majority of propane.