Method for removing oxygen from an oil sand stream
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a method for removing oxygen from an oil sand stream, the method including the steps of: (a) providing an oil sand stream; (b) introducing the oil sand stream into a liquid bath; (c) transporting the oil sand through the liquid bath to a confined space above the surface of the liquid bath; (d) removing the oil sand from the confined space; and (e) extracting bitumen from the oil sand removed in step (d).
1. A method for removing oxygen from an oil sand stream, the method comprising at least the steps of:
(a) providing an oil sand stream;
(b) introducing the oil sand stream into a liquid bath;
(c) transporting the oil sand through the liquid bath to a confined space above the surface of the liquid bath wherein a temperature in the confined space is between −20° C. and 30° C.; and
(d) removing the oil sand from the confined space.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of extracting bitumen from the oil sand removed in step (d).
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oil sand provided in step (a) has a particle size of less than 20 inches.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the oil sand provided in step (a) has a particle size of less than 12 inches.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid in the liquid bath comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of water and a hydrocarbon having a flash point that is above the operating temperature of the liquid bath, and a combination thereof.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein in step (c) the oil sand underflows a weir during the transporting through the liquid bath.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein in step (c) the oil sand is transported in an upwards direction.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a purge gas is introduced into the confined space.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the purge gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and flue gas, and a combination thereof.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein an oxygen concentration in the confined space is below a level that creates an explosive or flammable confined space.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein a pressure in the confined space is between about 0.001 and about 0.35 barg.
12. A method for removing oxygen from an oil sand stream, the method comprising at least the steps of:
(a) providing an oil sand stream;
(b) introducing the oil sand stream into a liquid bath;
(c) transporting the oil sand through the liquid bath to a confined space above the surface of the liquid bath;
(d) removing the oil sand from the confined space; and
(e) extracting bitumen from the oil sand removed in step (d) using an aromatic solvent.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein a purge gas is introduced into the confined space.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the purge gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and flue gas, and a combination thereof.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein an oxygen concentration in the confined space is below the flammability level (as determined by ASTM E2079) of the aromatic hydrocarbon solvent.
16. A method for removing oxygen from an oil sand stream, the method comprising at least the steps of:
(a) providing an oil sand stream;
(b) introducing the oil sand stream into a liquid bath;
(c) transporting the oil sand through the liquid bath to a confined space above the surface of the liquid bath;
(d) removing the oil sand from the confined space; and
(e) extracting bitumen from the oil sand removed in step (d) using an aliphatic solvent.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a purge gas is introduced into the confined space.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the purge gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and flue gas, and a combination thereof.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the oxygen concentration in the confined space is below the flammability level (as determined by ASTM E2079) of the aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent.