INTEGRATED LIQUID-TO-GAS ARTIFICIAL LIFT AND BITUMEN DILUTION METHODS AND SYSTEMS

摘要

Methods and systems for producing an oil sand slurry from subsurface reservoirs include a gas lift method to lift a slurry using a lift liquid with controlled boiling pressure and temperature range. The gas lift method utilizes phase transformation from liquid to gas by boiling or evaporation or partial evaporation to lift the slurry to the surface. The composition of the lift fluid can also be utilized to promote easier surface recovery of bitumen from oil sands by using a composition of lift fluid that would contain two groups of chemical component. The first group of chemical components would generally include lighter hydrocarbons, such as methane or ethane, that would evaporate at an appropriate pressure and temperature to lead to gas lift. A second group of chemical components could include non-evaporating solvent components which remain in liquid phase and aid in bitumen extraction during the slurry lift.