IN SITU TAR SANDS REDUCED PRESSURE SEPARATION PROCESS AND APPARATUS

摘要

Tar sands separation process that includesfarming a cavity in the producing zone of an in situ bodyof tar sands, filling the cavity with water, closing thecavity to atmosphere and subjecting the sealed-in cavityto a negative pressure. Separation of the bitumen andsands takes place at the walls of the cavity and theseparated sand sinks in the water to the bottom of thecavity and the bitumen rises to the top portion of thecavity wherefrom it is removed as by pumping or the like.The negative pressure can be varied cyclically and/or thewater can be mechanically agitated.