Process and System for Processing Tar Sand

Abstract

A process and system to separate crude from tar sands. A tar sand and crude oil mixture is created using ground tar sands. The tar sand and crude oil mixture is mixed under high pressure in a treatment vessel with either natural gas or exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine. The mixture is then moved through a entrainment vessel still under the high pressure. When the mixture is removed from the entrainment vessel excess gas is removed from the mixture. The crude oil is then separated from the sand typically through a cyclone separator. A portion of the crude oil may be used to mix with the ground tar sand on the front end of the process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for separating crude oil and tar sand, the process comprising:
 generating exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine;   chilling the exhaust gas;   separating water contained in the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas;   compressing the exhaust gas to an elevated pressure;   grinding tar sand   creating a tar sand crude oil mixture by mixing the tar sand with crude oil;   injecting the tar sand crude oil mixture at the elevated into a inlet of a treatment vessel having a fixed spiral fin wrapped around a gas injection pipe;   injecting the exhaust gas into the treatment vessel through a plurality of small holes located along gas injection pipe;   mix the tar sand crude oil mixture with the exhaust gas;   pass the tars sand crude oil mixture and exhaust gas from the treatment vessel through a conduit having a cross-sectional area and into an entrainment vessel having a cross-sectional area greater than the conduit cross-sectional area while maintaining the elevated pressure;   remove the tar sand crude oil mixture with the exhaust gas from the entrainment vessel;   remove excess exhaust gas from the tar sand crude oil mixture   separate the tar sand crude oil mixture into sand crude oil.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising:
 catalytically treating the exhaust gas prior to chilling the exhaust gas. 
 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the elevated pressure is within the range of 600 psi to 1800 psi. 
 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising:
 cyclonically separating the tar sand crude oil mixture into sand and crude oil. 
 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising:
 using crude oil separated from the tar sand crude oil mixture to mix with the ground tar sand prior to injecting into treatment vessel. 
 
     
     
         6 . A process for separating crude oil and tar sand, the process comprising:
 generating exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine;   catalytically treating the exhaust gas;   chilling the exhaust gas;   separating water contained in the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas;   compressing the exhaust gas to an elevated pressure, said elevated pressure being in a range between 600 psi and 1800 psi;   grinding tar sand;   creating a tar sand crude oil mixture by mixing the tar sand with crude oil;   injecting the tar sand crude oil mixture at the elevated into a inlet of a treatment vessel having a fixed spiral fin wrapped around a gas injection pipe;   injecting the exhaust gas into the treatment vessel through a plurality of small holes located along gas injection pipe;   mixing the tar sand crude oil mixture with the exhaust gas;   passing the tars sand crude oil mixture and exhaust gas from the treatment vessel through a conduit having a cross-sectional area and into an entrainment vessel having a cross-sectional area greater than the conduit cross-sectional area while maintaining the elevated pressure;   removing the tar sand crude oil mixture with the exhaust gas from the entrainment vessel;   removing excess exhaust gas from the tar sand crude oil mixture;   cyclonically separating the tar sand crude oil mixture into sand and crude oil;   using a portion of the crude oil separated from the tar sand crude oil mixture to mix with the tar sand prior to injecting it in the treatment vessel.   
     
     
         7 . A process for separating crude oil and tar sand, the process comprising:
 compressing natural gas to an elevated pressure;   grinding tar sand creating a tar sand crude oil mixture by mixing the tar sand with crude oil;   injecting the tar sand crude oil mixture at the elevated into a inlet of a treatment vessel having a fixed spiral fin wrapped around a gas injection pipe;   injecting the natural gas into the treatment vessel through a plurality of small holes located along the gas injection pipe;   mixing the tar sand crude oil mixture with the natural gas;   passing the tars sand crude oil mixture and natural gas from the treatment vessel through a conduit having a cross-sectional area and into an entrainment vessel having a cross-sectional area greater than the conduit cross-sectional area while maintaining the elevated pressure;   removing the tar sand crude oil mixture with the natural gas from the entrainment vessel;   removing excess natural gas from the tar sand crude oil mixture separating the tar sand crude oil mixture into sand crude oil.   
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7  further comprising:
 the elevated pressure is within the range of 600 psi to 1800 psi. 
 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 7  further comprising:
 cyclonically separating the tar sand crude oil mixture into sand and crude oil. 
 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 7  further comprising:
 using crude oil separated from the tar sand crude oil mixture to mix with the ground tar sand prior to injecting into treatment vessel. 
 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 7  further comprising:
 treating the natural gas prior to injecting it into the treatment vessel. 
 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  further comprising:
 removing natural gas liquids from the natural gas. 
 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 11  further comprising:
 removing hydrogen sulfide from the natural gas. 
 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 11  further comprising:
 removing carbon dioxide from the natural gas. 
 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 11  further comprising:
 removing water from the natural gas.