Method for solvent treating of tar sands with water displacement

摘要

A method for the recovery of bitumen from tar sand comprises slurrying tar sand with about 0.5 to about 4.0 pound of a organic solvent per pound of tar sand, then adding greater than about 0.50 pound water per pound of tar sand, and separating a bitumen rich solvent phase. The method has the advantage of permitting separation of sand from the bitumen rich solvent extract without formation of a stable emulsion.