LEAN FROTH PROCESS FOR OIL SANDS PROCESSING

摘要

Described is a process for processing oil sands comprising: a) providing a slurry of oil sands, water, and a dispersant for reducing slurry viscosity to assist separation of solids from the slurry; b) breaking down lumps of the oil sands and effecting shear mixing, of the oil sands by the water, by mixing the slurry; c) producing a solids stream and a lean bitumen froth comprising bitumen after breaking down the lumps and effecting the shear mixing; d) passing the lean bitumen froth through a hydrotransport pipeline without the need for air injection; and e) using water in a weight ratio of the water to the oil sands of 1.5 or less throughout steps a) to d). The process is not dependent on air attachment.