Claims
- 1. A process for treating bitumen froth to separate a bitumen component thereof from a residual component containing water and solids, which comprises:
- heating said bitumen froth to a temperature in the range of 100.degree. C. to 300.degree. C. under a pressure sufficient to maintain fluid components in the liquid state, and
- passing said froth to a plurality of separation stages in series for gravity separating water and solids form the bitumen while continuously maintaining the temperature int he range of 100.degree. C,. to 300.degree. C. and the pressure sufficient to maintain the fluid components in the liquid stage.
- 2. A process as claimed in claim 1, in which bitumen is removed from a first separation stage as a product and water, solids and residual bitumen are passed to a second separation stage for recovery of bitumen and withdrawal of water and solids for disposal.
- 3. A process as claimed in claim 2, in which the bitumen froth is preconditioned by efficient mixing in a mixing stage prior to passage to each separation stage.
- 4. A process as claimed in claim 3, in which a diluent consisting of a hydrocarbon miscible with the bitumen is added to at least one mixing stage in an amount of hydrocarbon diluent in the range of about 0 to 60 per cent by weight of the bitumen fed to the said mixing stage.
- 5. A process as claimed in claim 3, in which a diluent consisting of a hydrocarbon miscible with the bitumen is added to at least one mixing stage in an amount of hydrocarbon diluent int he range of about 15 to 50 per cent by weight of the bitumen fed to the said mixing stage.
- 6. A process as claimed in claim 5 in which said hydrocarbon diluent has the characteristics of a diluent selected from the group consisting of naphtha, kerosene, toluene and natural gas condensate.
- 7. A process as claimed in claim 6, in which the bitumen froth is heated to a temperature in the range of about 100.degree. C . to about 180.degree. C. and maintained at a pressure in the range of about 800 to about 2000 kPa/
- 8. A process as claimed in claim 6, in which at least a portion of ht diluent is recovered from the diluted bitumen product for recycle to a mixing stage.
- 9. A process as claimed in claim 5, in which the bitumen froth is heated to a temperature in the range of about 100.degree. C. to about 180.degree. C. and the heated bitumen froth is maintained at a pressure in the range of about 150 to about 5000 kPa.
- 10. A process as claimed in claim 5, in which the bitumen froth is heated to a temperature in the range of about 100.degree. C. to about 180.degree. C. and maintained at a pressure in the range of about 800 to about 2000 kPa.
- 11. A process as claimed in claim 5, in which at least a portion of the diluent is recovered form the diluted bitumen product for recycle to a mixing stage.
- 12. A process as claimed in claim 1, in which the bitumen froth is heated to a temperature in the range of about 100.degree. C. to about 180.degree. C. and the heated bitumen froth is maintained at a pressure in the range of about 150 to about 5000 kPa.
- 13. A process as claimed in claim 12, in which the bitumen froth is heated to a temperature in the range of about 100.degree. C. to about 180.degree. C. and maintained at a pressure in the range of about 800 to about 2000 kPa.
- 14. A process as claimed in claim 1, in which the bitumen froth is heated to a temperature in the range of about 100.degree. C. to about 180.degree. C. and maintained at a pressure in the range of about 800 to about 2000 kPa.
- 15. A process as claimed in claim 5, in which the bitumen froth is heated to a temperature in the range of 80.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. and passed to a dearation stage at atmospheric pressure prior to passage to a first separation stage.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2021185 |
Jul 1990 |
CAX |
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Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 668,572 filed Mar. 12, 1991 (not abandoned).
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3901791 |
Baillie |
Aug 1975 |
|
4035282 |
Stuchberry et al. |
Jul 1977 |
|
4648964 |
Leto et al. |
Mar 1987 |
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
668572 |
Mar 1991 |
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