Method for producing pipeline specification bitumen from oil sands mining and extraction facilities using non-miscible solvents and centrifuge processing

Abstract

A method of producing pipeline quality bitumen, includes the steps of: receiving bitumen diluted with a diluent solvent from a secondary froth treatment process; thermally dehydrating the diluted bitumen at a temperature above about 100° C. and below the boiling point of the diluent solvent; mixing a high-density, non-miscible solvent (HD-NMS) and optionally, a low density, miscible solvent (LD-MS) to the diluted bitumen; and separating any remaining fine solids and precipitates by gravitational separation at a temperature above about 100° C. and below the boiling point of the diluent solvent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing pipeline quality bitumen, comprising the steps of:
 (a) receiving bitumen diluted with a diluent solvent from a secondary froth treatment process;   (b) thermally dehydrating the diluted bitumen at a temperature above about 100° C. and below the boiling point of the diluent solvent;   (c) mixing a high-density, non-miscible solvent (HD-NMS) and optionally, a low density, miscible solvent (LD-MS) to the diluted bitumen; and   (d) separating any remaining fine solids and precipitates by gravitational separation at a temperature above about 100° C. and below the boiling point of the diluent solvent.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of recovering and reusing the HD-NMS and optionally the LD-MS. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the HD-NMS has a specific gravity at least about 0.1 larger than the diluted bitumen and a dielectric constant greater than about 20. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the HD-NMS comprises acetylacetone, dimethyl-formamide, or propylene glycol, or mixtures thereof.