Review of research on aqueous extraction of bitumen from mined oil sands

Kasperski, Kim L.

doi:10.4095/305295

Cited by 28 publications

(53 citation statements)

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“…These are similar to Athabasca ores (25,26) except that the clay-to-fines ratio is lower than the 0.4 to 0.5 that is typical of Athabasca oil sands (28) . In this case, clays are determined by either the methylene blue adsorption (11) . The stockpiled ore, however, shows a water chemistry typical of oxidized pyrite.…”

Section: Laboratory Scale Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The froth quality in the froth is not very good for the test results shown in Table 4. A typical Athabasca froth quality would be 4 to 5 or better (10,11) . The vessel height in the 500 g batch unit is 0.18 m, which at the high flotation rpm, is quite small to allow adequate separation of fines from bitumen droplets as they rise to the surface, thereby reducing the froth quality.…”

Section: Laboratory Scale Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to achieve bitumen recoveries similar to those for Athabasca oil sands, significantly higher mechanical energy levels were required, along with high temperatures. Since the early 1990s, the operating temperature used in commercial processing of Athabasca oil sands has been reduced from about 80˚C to less than 50˚C while increasing the mechanical energy input (1,2,11,12) . By maintaining both mechanical and thermal energy inputs at high levels, the 'difficult to process' Asphalt Ridge tar sand showed bitumen recoveries of approximately 90%; similar to the Athabasca commercial operations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a water-based extraction process, the bulk of the minerals are removed in the water phase during an extraction process that creates a bitumen rich froth (typically 50% bitumen, 10% solids and 40% water). The bitumen-rich froth then undergoes treatment in which solvent is used to reduce the bitumen viscosity and facilitate removal of the remaining water and solids to create a suitable upgrader or refinery feed (11) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Laboratory and Pilot Experience in the Development of a Conventional Water-Based Extraction Process for the Utah Asphalt Ridge Tar Sands

Mikula

Munoz

Omotoso

2007

Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology

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The belief that the Utah tar sands deposits are oil-wet has led to a focus on solvent-based bitumen extraction processes, or some form of solvent assisted water-based extraction process for these types of materials. However, under certain conditions, this ore is in fact amenable to a conventional water-based extraction process. The thermal, mechanical and chemical environments necessary to make the Asphalt Ridge ore behave like an Alberta Athabasca oil sand are outlined, along with the typical criteria which must be satisfied for a novel extraction process to be viable. Laboratory-scale demonstrations of the efficacy of a Clark-style hot water extraction process for the Asphalt Ridge tar sands were subsequently confirmed on a twenty tonne per hour pilot scale. In addition, the scarcity of water at the mining and extraction operation in Utah led to the development of an aggressive tailings treatment process, which also offers lessons for tailings handling in the surface-mined oil sands in Alberta. Introduction The CANMET Energy Technology Centre in Devon, Alberta, became involved in the Asphalt Ridge tar sands project when it was a solvent-based extraction operation hampered by a significant emulsion buildup in the recycle water. In working to develop a solution to the emulsion buildup, it became apparent that, using the solvent-based extraction process, solvent losses associated with clay mineral-solvent interactions would be unacceptably high. As a result, a series of standard tests(1, 2) were applied to Asphalt Ridge tar sand samples in order to assess the potential for a solvent-free, water-based extraction process(3, 4). Surprisingly, some of these nominally oil-wet tar sands performed very well, indicating that the Asphalt Ridge tar sand bitumen could be extracted using commercially proven technology developed over the last 40 years in Alberta(5–10). In order to achieve bitumen recoveries similar to those for Athabasca oil sands, significantly higher mechanical energy levels were required, along with high temperatures. Since the early 1990s, the operating temperature used in commercial processing of Athabasca oil sands has been reduced from about 80 °C to less than 50 °C while increasing the mechanical energy input(1, 2, 11, 12). By maintaining both mechanical and thermal energy inputs at high levels, the ‘difficult to process’ Asphalt Ridge tar sand showed bitumen recoveries of approximately 90%; similar to the Athabasca commercial operations. The Asphalt Ridge tar sand samples that did not perform well in bench-top laboratory assessments were found to be weathered or oxidized; conditions that also inhibit extractability in the Athabasca oil sands in Alberta(13–17). The difficulties encountered by earlier researchers in using Canadian technology, or a modified water-based extraction process for the Asphalt Ridge tar sand (without pre-treatment with an organic diluent before ore conditioning), may have been due to improper handling of cores or bulk samples resulting in bitumen oxidation or weathering(18–24). In referring to the differences between the Utah tar sands and those in the Athabasca deposit, "These differences preclude the direct application of the Canadian mining and recovery technology to Utah's tar sands and to other United States tar sands(18)."

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Section: Laboratory Scale Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Laboratory Scale Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Laboratory and Pilot Experience in the Development of a Conventional Water-Based Extraction Process for the Utah Asphalt Ridge Tar Sands

Mikula

Munoz

Omotoso

2007

Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology

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“…The most common extraction process is hot water bitumen extraction where bitumen is produced in a froth consisting of bitumen, water, and inorganic solids. Poorer quality oil sand froths have lower oil content and higher contents of water and solids (2) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards the Improvement of the Efficiency of Oil Sands Froth Treatment

Romanova

Yarranton

Schramm

2003

Canadian International Petroleum Conference

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Estimation of methylene blue index in oil sands tailings using hyperspectral data

Entezari

Rivard

Lipsett³

2016

Can J Chem Eng

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Clay minerals constitute a significant fraction of oil sands tailings; and clay mineralogy, abundance, and morphology can dramatically affect the strength of the tailings during consolidation. The ability of clays to expand or swell in the presence of water is of importance in establishing the post‐depositional strength and the geotechnical stability of a tailings deposit for reclamation purposes. The surface activity of oil sands tailings solids is typically determined using the methylene blue index (MBI), an analytical technique that quantifies the ionic absorption capacity of a sample. The present work explores the use of short‐wave infrared (SWIR) and long‐wave infrared (LWIR) hyperspectral observations for the estimation of the swelling potential or activity of oil sands tailings indicated by MBI. Spectral features in reflectance spectra were characterized in the SWIR and LWIR, in particular those attributed to the presence of quartz and clays. These features were employed to assess the correlation between MBI and remote sensing reflectance measurements collected in the laboratory from air‐dried tailings. In the SWIR, a band ratio of reflectance at 2.111 and 1.992 μm was highly correlated with MBI. For the potential estimation of MBI in outdoor settings, where the intervening atmosphere can impact the spectral measurements, a band ratio of reflectance at 1.773 and 1.307 μm provided an estimation of MBI when moisture of tailings did not exceed 0.20 g/g (20 wt%). The best predictions of MBI were obtained in the LWIR using the reflectance peaks at 9.67 µm and 11 µm attributable to clay minerals.

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Review of research on aqueous extraction of bitumen from mined oil sands

Cited by 28 publications

References 0 publications

Laboratory and Pilot Experience in the Development of a Conventional Water-Based Extraction Process for the Utah Asphalt Ridge Tar Sands

Laboratory and Pilot Experience in the Development of a Conventional Water-Based Extraction Process for the Utah Asphalt Ridge Tar Sands

Towards the Improvement of the Efficiency of Oil Sands Froth Treatment

Estimation of methylene blue index in oil sands tailings using hyperspectral data

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