METHOD FOR PRODUCING PIPELINE SPECIFICATION BITUMEN FROM OIL SANDS MINING AND EXTRACTION FACILITIES USING NON-MISCIBLE SOLVENTS AND CENTRIFUGE PROCESSING

摘要

A method of producing pipeline quality bitumen, includes the steps of:receiving bitumendiluted with a diluent solvent from a secondary froth treatment process;thermally dehydratingthe diluted bitumen at a temperature above about 100 °C and below theboiling point of thediluent solvent; mixing a high-density, non-miscible solvent (HD-NMS) andoptionally, a lowdensity, miscible solvent (LD-MS) to the diluted bitumen; and separating anyremaining finesolids and precipitates by gravitational separation at a temperature aboveabout 100 °C andbelow the boiling point of the diluent solvent.