System for using super critical state carbon dioxide for hydrocarbon recovery and transport

Abstract

A system for the use of super critical CO 2 as a carrying or suspension agent for transport of extracted or processed hydrocarbons. The super critical state CO 2 is then co-mingled with the extracted or processed hydrocarbons and transported in the co-mingled state to a delivery point. At the delivery point, the super critical state CO 2 is allowed to return to its gaseous state allowing the separation of the hydrocarbons therefrom. The hydrocarbons may be processed and the gaseous CO 2 returned to its super critical state for future transport, use in EOR, or geologically sequestered.

1 . A system for utilizing super critical state CO 2  as a carrying or suspension agent for extracted or processed hydrocarbons, said system comprising:
 means for causing CO 2  to enter a super critical state;   means for transporting said super critical state CO 2  to the processed hydrocarbons;   means for commingling the super critical state CO 2  with the processed hydrocarbons;   means for transporting the super critical state CO 2  together with the processed hydrocarbons to a predetermined delivery destination.   
     
     
         2 . The system as defined in  claim 1  further including:
 means for depressurizing the mixture of super critical state CO 2  and processed hydrocarbons at the delivery destination; 
 means for recovering the gaseous phase CO 2 ; 
 means for causing the gaseous phase CO 2  to re-enter a super critical state; 
 means for transporting the super critical state CO 2  to one or more locations including but not limited to: EOR/EGR, coal fields for enhanced coal bed methane, and a sequestration location. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbons are bitumen, oil sands or petroleum coke. 
     
     
         4 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the means for transporting includes a pipeline. 
     
     
         5 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the means for transporting includes a truck. 
     
     
         6 . The system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the means for transporting includes a truck.