Compositions for oil recovery and methods of using same

Abstract

A method of removing bitumen from tar sands comprising contacting the tar sands with a first mixture comprising a petroleum distillate and an oxygenated solvent, and recovering a second mixture comprising (a) at least a portion of the petroleum distillate and oxygenated solvent from the first mixture, (b) bitumen and (c) sand having a reduced amount of bitumen.

1 . A method of removing bitumen from tar sands comprising:
 contacting the tar sands with a first mixture comprising a petroleum distillate and an oxygenated solvent, and   recovering a second mixture comprising (a) at least a portion of the petroleum distillate and oxygenated solvent from the first mixture, (b) bitumen and (c) sand having a reduced amount of bitumen.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bitumen has an API gravity of equal to or less than about 10°. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bitumen has a viscosity of equal to or greater than about 0.2 Pa·S. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the petroleum distillate comprises diesel. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the petroleum distillate is present in the first mixture in an amount of from about 2% to about 90%. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the oxygenated solvent comprises a glycol ether. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the glycol ether comprises ethylene glycol monoalkyl ether, ethylene glycol dialkyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, combinations thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the oxygenated solvent is present in the first mixture in an amount of from about 10% to about 98%. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first mixture further comprises a surfactant. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the surfactant comprises an alkyl polyglycoside. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the surfactant is present in the first mixture in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 1%. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the percent recovery of the bitumen from the tar sands is equal to or greater than about 50% by weight. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the contacting occurs via a counter current flow of the tar sands and the first mixture. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the contacting occurs via filtration of the first mixture through the tar sands. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the filtration further comprises passing the second mixture through a membrane. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising separating the bitumen from the petroleum distillate and the oxygenated solvent in the second mixture. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising converting at least a portion of the bitumen to a lighter petroleum product. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising recycling all or a portion of the lighter petroleum product to the first mixture. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising recycling all or a portion of the petroleum distillate and oxygenated solvent to the first mixture. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising scrubbing the recovered sand. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising contacting the scrubbed sand with additional solvent.