Compositions and methods for extracting hydrocarbons from oil sands

Abstract

PEG lipids are used to extract hydrocarbons from oil sands. At ambient temperatures the PEG lipids combine with bitumen onto a flowable form, which is easily transportable by pipeline. The process results in the release of less carbon dioxide than conventional extraction processes.

1 . A method of extracting hydrocarbons from oil sand, the method comprising: 
 locating the oil sand;    providing a diacyl-PEG polymer in contact with the oil sand;    allowing the polymer to convert the hydrocarbons in the oil sand into a flowable form; and    collecting the flowable form.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising separating the diacyl-PEG polymer from the hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , where the diacyl-PEG polymer comprises a glycerol backbone.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , where the diacyl-PEG polymer has a melting temperature below about 25 degrees C.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , where the diacyl-PEG polymer is selected from the group consisting of GDO-12, GDO-23 and GDL-23.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , where said locating is underground.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising preheating the diacyl-PEG polymer.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , where said locating is above ground.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising grinding the oil sand into particles.  
   
   
       10 . A method of converting hydrocarbons from oil sand into a flowable form, the method comprising: 
 locating the oil sand; and    providing a diacyl-PEG polymer in contact with the oil sand.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , where the diacyl-PEG polymer comprises a glycerol backbone.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , where the diacyl-PEG polymer has a melting temperature below about 25 degrees C.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , where the diacyl-PEG polymer is selected from the group consisting of GDO-12, GDO-23 and GDL-23.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , where said locating is underground.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising preheating the diacyl-PEG polymer.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , where said locating is above ground.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising grinding the oil sand into particles.