Abstract: A method for extracting hydrocarbons from a poor processing bitumen froth is provided comprising subjecting a bitumen, solids and water slurry to flotation in a flotation device to produce the poor processing bitumen froth; optionally subjecting the poor processing bitumen froth to centrifugation to remove a portion of the water from the poor processing bitumen froth; and subjecting the poor processing bitumen froth to supercritical extraction in a pressure vessel using a supercritical fluid to produce a hydrocarbon stream suitable for further upgrading.

Abstract: This is a method to reactively refine hydrocarbons, such as heavy oils with API gravities of less than 20° and bitumen-like hydrocarbons with viscosities greater than 1000 cp at standard temperature and pressure using a selected fluid at supercritical conditions. The reaction portion of the method delivers lighter weight, more volatile hydrocarbons to an attached contacting device that operates in mixed subcritical or supercritical modes. This separates the reaction products into portions that are viable for use or sale without further conventional refining and hydro-processing techniques. This method produces valuable products with fewer processing steps, lower costs, increased worker safety due to less processing and handling, allow greater opportunity for new oil field development and subsequent positive economic impact, reduce related carbon dioxide, and wastes typical with conventional refineries.

Abstract: Methods for preparing solvent-dry, stackable tailings. The method can include the steps of adding a first quantity of first solvent to a bitumen material to form a first mixture, separating a first quantity of bitumen-enriched solvent from the first mixture and thereby creating first solvent-wet tailings, adding a quantity of second solvent to first solvent-wet tailings to separate a first quantity of first solvent component from the first solvent-wet tailings and thereby producing second solvent-wet tailings, and adding a quantity of water to the second solvent-wet tailings to separate a first quantity of second solvent component from the second solvent-wet tailings and thereby forming solvent-dry, stackable tailings.

Abstract: A method and a device for carrying out the method for extracting hydrocarbons from oil sand uses organic extractants and a filter apparatus with a continuous rotary filter as well as a steaming unit.

Abstract: Method for recovering bitumen from tar sands, according to which sands are brought into contact with at least one partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl acetate) (co)polymer A.

Abstract: A method of extracting bitumen from bituminous material. In some embodiments, the method may include loading a bitumen material in a column, followed by feeding a first quantity of first solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting the bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column. A quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent may then be fed into the column. In some embodiments, the method may include simultaneously loading bitumen material and a first solvent in a column, followed by feeding additional first solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column, and feeding a quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent into the column.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for cleaning bitumen froth by mixing a sufficient amount of naphtha with the bitumen froth to provide a naphtha-to-bitumen ratio within the range of about 4.0 (w/w) to about 10.0 (w/w) and separating substantially dry diluted bitumen from the water and solids. Also provided is a process for cleaning diluted bitumen by mixing a sufficient amount of naphtha with the diluted bitumen to provide a naphtha-to-bitumen ratio equal to or greater than about 1.8 (w/w) and separating marketable fungible raw bitumen from the water and solids.

Abstract: A process for extracting bitumen from oil sand using a combination of heavy solvent and light solvent is provided comprising digesting mined oil sand with a high-flash point heavy solvent (HS) to produce a dense oil sand slurry; mixing the dense slurry with a light solvent (LS) to give a heavy solvent to light solvent (HS/LS) mass ratio of about 70/30 to about 50/50 and subjecting the thinned oil sand slurry to a first stage solid-liquid separation to produce a first liquids stream containing bitumen and a first solids stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods for extracting recoverable materials from source materials are provided. Source materials are introduced into a furnace. A condition is created within the furnace in which a gaseous pressure within the furnace is less than an atmospheric pressure outside of the furnace by removing air from within the furnace with a vacuum pump. Hydrocarbons contained within the source material are separated from the source material without using a significant amount of water by heating the source material to a temperature sufficient to cause the hydrocarbons to liquefy or vaporize. The liquefied hydrocarbons or vaporized hydrocarbons are then captured.

Abstract: Process for conversion of petroleum feed for production of low sulphur content fuel comprising the following steps: a step of ebullated bed hydroconversion of the feed in the presence of a supported catalyst, a separation step allowing a residual fraction to be obtained, a step of fixed bed hydrotreatment of the residual fraction using an upstream system of permutable reactors.

Abstract: A method for processing froth treatment tailings, including separating the froth treatment tailings in order to produce a coarse mineral material fraction and a fine mineral material fraction therefrom, subjecting the coarse mineral material fraction to froth flotation in order to produce a heavy mineral concentrate and a coarse mineral material tailings therefrom, and subjecting the heavy mineral concentrate to solvent extraction in order to produce a debitumenized heavy mineral concentrate and a bitumen extract therefrom.

Abstract: A system and process for recovering heat from a bitumen froth treatment plant use a sealed closed-loop heat transfer circuit. The system has a heat removal exchanger associated with the plant and receiving hot froth treatment process stream; heat recovery exchanger; the circuit; and an oil sands process fluid line. The circuit includes piping circulating heat exchange media having uncontaminated and low fouling properties. The piping includes a supply line to the heat removal exchanger and a return line for providing heated media to the recovery exchanger. The circuit has a pump for pressurizing the heat exchange media; a pressure regulator for regulating pressure of the media. The pump and the pressure maintain the media under pressure in liquid phase. The oil sands process fluid is heated producing a cooled media for reuse in the heat removal exchanger. High and low temperature heat removal exchangers can be used.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of processing a bituminous feed. The bituminous feed is contacted with an extraction liquor to form a slurry. A bridging liquid is added to the slurry in at least two stages and solids within the slurry are agitated to form an agglomerated slurry comprising agglomerated solids and a low solids bitumen extract. The agglomerates are then separated from the low solids bitumen extract. Potential benefits may include the production of smaller and more uniform agglomerates. The former may lead to higher bitumen recoveries and the latter may improve the solid-liquid separation rate. The bridging liquid may be added in an area of relatively high shear rates. Between stages of bridging liquid addition, agglomerates may be removed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising a plant material and methods for using the same. The methods include extracting or removing a substance from a substrate, or remediating a substrate from a substance. The substance can comprise a hydrocarbon-containing substance, a protein, lipid, wax, fatty acid or fatty alcohol, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the recovery of bitumen from an oil sand comprising the following phases in succession: (a) mixing an oil sand with a diluent capable of reducing the viscosity and density of the bitumen contained in said oil sand, obtaining a first mixture (slurry) comprising diluted bitumen; (b) mixing said slurry with a basic aqueous solution (BAS) possibly containing salts to increase its ionic strength, capable of removing said diluted bitumen from said oil sand containing it, obtaining a second mixture (BAS-slurry) which can be separated into (i) a liquid phase comprising said diluted bitumen, a fraction of oil sand free of the bitumen removed and water; (ii) a sediment comprising the remaining fraction of said oil sand free of the bitumen removed, water and residual hydrocarbons which can be eliminated by subsequent washings; (c) separating a liquid phase comprising said diluted bitumen removed, from said BAS-slurry mixture; (d) recovering, from said liquid phase separated

Abstract: In a process to treat gaseous components obtained from an in situ recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbonaceous deposit the mercaptans and hydrogen sulfide are separated from each other using lean oil and the hydrogen sulfide further processed to obtain a sulfur-free fuel gas product. The rich oil obtained after treating the gaseous components can be used as a diluent with the liquid hydrocarbons or processed to remove and convert the mercaptans to disulfide oils.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for extracting bitumen from an oil sand stream, the method including the steps of: (a) providing an oil sand stream; (b) contacting the oil sand stream with a solvent thereby obtaining a first solvent-diluted oil sand slurry; (c) screening the first solvent-diluted oil sand slurry, thereby obtaining a first oversized material and a first undersized material; (d) contacting the first oversized material with a solvent thereby obtaining a second solvent-diluted oil sand slurry; (e) screening the second solvent-diluted oil sand slurry, thereby obtaining a second oversized material and a second undersized material; (f) optionally filtering the first undersized material obtained in step (c), thereby obtaining a solids-depleted stream and a solids-enriched stream; (g) optionally removing solvent from the solids-depleted stream obtained in step (f) thereby obtaining a bitumen-enriched stream.

Abstract: A solvent that reversibly converts from a hydrophobic liquid form to hydrophilic liquid form upon contact with water and a selected trigger, e.g., contact with CO2, is described. The hydrophilic liquid form is readily converted back to the hydrophobic liquid form and water. The hydrophobic liquid is an amidine or amine. The hydrophilic liquid form comprises an amidinium salt or an ammonium salt.

Abstract: A cascading processor is described which includes a processor body having an upper inlet and a lower outlet, such that materials pass by force of gravity from inlet to the outlet. The processor body has a plurality of processing levels Which are sequentially vertically spaced progressively downwardly from the inlet to the outlet, such that materials cascade by force of gravity from one processing level to another processing level as the materials pass through the processor body front the inlet to the outlet. This cascading processor was developed for recovery of bitumen front oil sands, but can be used to process oil shales or to process biomasses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method which includes the steps of: contacting an oil sand with a suitable solvent to generate a solvated oil sand slurry; separating solvent-diluted bitumen from the solvated oil sand slurry to generate (a) a solvent-diluted bitumen and (b) a slurry with increased solids concentration; filtering the slurry with increased solids concentration; dropping the solids into a pressure reduction vessel wherein the pressure in the pressure reduction vessel is a pressure below a vapor pressure of the solvent; and drying the solids removed from the pressure reduction vessel to produce solids having dry tailings. The method of the present invention may be used to produce a low ash bitumen product and dry tailings from oil sands.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of handling a solvent-containing solids stream in a non-aqueous oil sand extraction process, the method including the steps of: (a) providing a solvent-containing solids stream at a first pressure; (b) depositing the solvent-containing solids stream provided in step (a) as a bed in a vessel; (c) discharging the solvent-containing solids stream from the vessel at a second pressure via an outlet, thereby obtaining a depressurized solvent-containing solids stream; wherein the solvent-containing solids stream in the vessel in step (b) is at a temperature above the boiling point of the solvent in the depressurized solvent-containing solids stream at the second pressure in step (c).

Abstract: Described is a method of processing a bituminous feed. The bituminous feed is solvent extracted to form a bitumen-rich stream and a bitumen-lean stream. Solvent is recovered from the bitumen-rich stream to form a bitumen product. Solvent and water are recovered from the bitumen-lean stream to form dry tailings with a moisture content of less than 40 wt.%. The dry tailings are separated into at least two streams, each stream having a moisture content of less than 40 wt. %, based on at least one physical or chemical property. At least one of the at least two streams is then used at an oil sands mine site. In this way, the dry tailings may be used more effectively.

Abstract: A method for the pyrolytic extraction of hydrocarbons such as shale oil from kerogen. Oil shale containing kerogen which has been ground into particulate form, is cascaded downwardly between a plurality of rotating trays within a heated processing chamber. As the hydrocarbons are volatized within the chamber, the volatiles are collected and condensed within a condenser or other suitable recovery apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of processing bitumen streams using membrane filtration. In one aspect, membrane filtration replaces paraffinic froth treatment, with one or more filtration steps replacing gravity settling. In another aspect, the bitumen stream is subjected to paraffmic solvent treatment at much higher flow rates, with an “almost cleaned” product being subsequently filtered by the membrane system. In this case, some contaminants are removed by conventional gravity settling equipment, while additional contaminants are removed by membrane filtration. In another aspect, membrane filtration is applied to a bitumen product effluent stream following naphthenic froth treatment. In another aspect, membrane filtration is applied to a bitumen product effluent stream from a solvent-based extraction process. In yet another aspect, membrane filtration is applied to a bitumen product effluent stream from a solvent extraction with solids agglomeration process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method comprising contacting an oil sand with a suitable solvent to generate a solvated oil sand slurry; separating solvent-diluted bitumen from the solvated oil sand slurry to generate (a) a solvent-diluted bitumen and (b) a slurry with increased solids concentration; and filtering the slurry with increased solids concentration. The method of the present invention may be used to produce a low ash bitumen product and dry tailings from oil sands.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for operating a process line for processing mined oil sand ore into a bitumen-containing slurry. The method may include: collecting, at least at one location, a plurality of measurements from one or more sensors; computing at a central controller a calculated value based on at least one of the plurality of measurements; and, applying an adjustment to an operating variable of a component of the process line to override a target set-point of a regulatory controller for that component based on the calculated value and a target value for the calculated value. The method and apparatus may receive measurement values in at least one step, and apply a correction to future measurement values in another step.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is a method for improving the froth quality and bitumen recovery in primary bitumen extraction processes by coagulant addition in the underwash feed water. Preferred coagulants are cationic or amphoteric polymers. Coagulant addition in the underwash feed water reduces the solids content reporting to the primary bitumen froth in a primary separation vessel (PSC). This treatment program can also be combined with dispersant addition in the dilution make-up feed water into a PSC. Preferred dispersants are low molecular weight anionic polymers.

Abstract: An improved system for removing bitumen from tar sands comprises a pretreatment system utilizing a vibratory load hopper for classifying and sizing said tar sand particles communicating with a dryer for heating and drying said tar sand particles to a predetermined temperature thereby controlling the moisture content of said tar sands. An extraction system is also included for accepting said tar sands from the dryer comprising a plurality of extraction vessels arranged in series for transporting said tar sands from a first extraction vessel to a final extraction vessel. Furthermore, a solvent system for supplying a predetermined volume of solvent flow through said extraction vessels is employed, whereby solvent is supplied to the last extraction vessel and a solvent and bitumen mixture is withdrawn from the first extraction vessel.

Abstract: A process and composition for removing heavy oil and bitumen from oil sands is disclosed. The composition comprises an emulsion of d-limonene in water, with an optional anionic surfactant as an emulsifying agent. The emulsion is contacted with an oil sand slurry until the aqueous and hydrocarbon phases separate. The process may take place at temperatures less than about 80° C. and with low concentrations of the d-limonene.

Abstract: A system and a process for recovering bitumen from oil sands are provided. The system includes a bitumen solvent comprised of at least 75 mol % dimethyl sulfide that is first contact miscible with bitumen, an oil sands material comprised of bitumen, and a contacting apparatus configured to receive the bitumen solvent and the oil sands material and to contact and mix the bitumen solvent and oil sands material to form a bitumen-containing extract and a bitumen-depleted oil sands material. The process includes the steps of providing the oil sands material; contacting the oil sands material with the solvent comprised of at least 75 mol % dimethyl sulfide to form the bitumen-containing extract and the bitumen-depleted oil sands material; and separating the bitumen-containing extract from the bitumen-depleted oil sands material.

Abstract: A process for bitumen extraction from hydrocarbonaceous solids, such as tar sand or oil shale, is performed in fluidized bed of a swirl reactor. This provides active interaction of three phases: 1) liquid phase—bituminous oil with solvent; 2) solid phase—sand grains, clay; 3) gaseous phase—steam and gasses. The process also involves the step of pressure decrease inside the reactor to activate a gas desorption dissolved in bituminous sand mixture. The process of separation of the bitumen and sand combines centrifuging and discharging individual products for further processing.

Abstract: A method for pre-treating bitumen froth for mixing with solvent for froth treatment includes heating the froth to a froth-solvent mixing temperature below the solvent flash temperature and suitably high to provide reduced bitumen viscosity sufficiently low for complete mixing of the solvent and the froth prior to introduction into a separation apparatus. A method of improving energy use in froth treatment includes reducing heat provided to the solvent, increasing heat provided to the froth prior to adding the solvent to reduce bitumen viscosity and adding the temperature-reduced solvent to the heated froth. A froth treatment separation process includes trim heating first and second solvent streams to adjust the first and second stage separation temperatures.

Abstract: The invention encompasses methods for aggregating oil-wet solids in an aqueous suspension comprising providing an aqueous suspension containing oil-wet solids, and treating the aqueous suspension with an effective amount of a formulation comprising a tunable surfactant, thereby aggregating the oil-wet solids as removable aggregates. The invention also encompasses methods for extracting bitumen from oil sands ore and systems for separating bitumen from inorganic oil sands ore.

Abstract: In a process to treat gaseous components obtained from an in situ recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbonaceous deposit the mercaptans and hydrogen sulfide are separated from each other using lean oil and the hydrogen sulfide further processed to obtain a sulfur-free fuel gas product. The rich oil obtained after treating the gaseous components can be used as a diluent with the liquid hydrocarbons or processed to remove and convert the mercaptans to disulfide oils.

Abstract: A process for upgrading oil including optionally pre-treating a heavy oil including at least one dissolved gas, asphaltenes, water, and mineral solids; reducing at least one dissolved gas content from said heavy oil, optionally further reducing water content from said heavy oil; adding a paraffinic solvent to said heavy oil, at a predetermined paraffinic solvent:heavy oil ratio, facilitating separation of asphaltenes, water, and mineral solids from the heavy oil resulting in a de-asphalted or partially de-asphalted oil (“DAO”)-paraffinic solvent stream, comprising a low asphaltenes content DAO-paraffinic solvent stream and an asphaltenes-mineral solids-paraffinic solvent-water slurry stream; optionally separating the paraffinic solvent and water from the asphaltenes-mineral solids-paraffinic solvent-water slurry stream; optionally separating the DAO-paraffinic solvent stream into a paraffinic solvent rich stream and a DAO stream; and optionally adding diluent to the DAO stream resulting in transportable oil.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing fluid from a slurry fluid and a plurality of solid particles including flowing a slurry stream that includes the slurry through a slurry conduit, injecting a displacing fluid through a first perforated region that is in fluid communication with the slurry conduit, displacing at least a portion of the slurry fluid from the slurry, and producing a displaced fluid stream, which may include the displaced portion of the slurry fluid and/or a portion of the injected displacing fluid, from a second perforated region that is in fluid communication with the slurry conduit. The systems and methods also may include producing a product slurry stream from the slurry conduit, separating the components of the displaced fluid stream, separating the components of the product slurry stream, and/or recycling a portion of one or more of the streams.

Abstract: A method for extracting bitumen from an oil sand feed stream comprises at least the steps of: (a) providing an oil sand feed stream; (b) contacting the oil sand feed stream with a liquid comprising an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent thereby obtaining a solvent-diluted oil sand slurry; (c) filtering the solvent-diluted oil sand slurry, thereby obtaining a first bitumen-enriched filtrate, a second bitumen-depleted filtrate and a bitumen-depleted sand; (d) reusing the second filtrate obtained in step (c) in the contacting of step (b); and (e) removing solvent from the first bitumen-enriched filtrate thereby obtaining a bitumen-enriched stream.

Abstract: A radio frequency heater is disclosed including a vessel for containing material to be heated and a radio frequency radiating surface. The vessel has a wall defining a reservoir. The radio frequency radiating surface at least partially surrounds the reservoir. The radiating surface includes two or more circumferentially spaced petals that are electrically isolated from other petals. The petals are positioned to irradiate at least a portion of the reservoir, and are adapted for connection to a source of radio frequency alternating current. A generally conical tank or tank segment having a conically wound radio frequency applicator is also contemplated. Also, a method of heating an oil-water process stream is disclosed. In this method a radio frequency heater and an oil-water process stream are provided. The process stream is irradiated with the heater, thus heating the water phase of the process stream.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein provide for extracting bitumen from oil sands at ambient or subambient temperature, for example at temperatures between 0 degrees Centigrade and about 20 degrees Centigrade. The process includes the steps of forming a slurry by mixing the oil sands with water, adding an extractant to the slurry, agitating the extractant with the slurry, and collecting bitumen that separates from the slurry.

Abstract: A method for removing oil from a physical object comprises the steps: i) bringing said physical object in contact with an oil removal composition, said oil removal composition comprising a) a surfactant having the general formula: R1-X—R2, wherein R1 is an open chain sugar alcohol, wherein X is one selected from NH, NCH3 and NCH2CH3, and wherein R2 is an aliphatic or aromatic group comprising at least 5 carbon atoms, and b) water, ii) leaving said oil removal composition in contact with said physical object for a period of time sufficient for most of said oil to be dispersed in said oil removal composition, High recovery of oil/bitumen from tar sands can be achieved. The composition is renewable, degradable and inexpensive. An extremely efficient de-greater is provided. The composition used in both bitumen recovery and degreasing is easily reusable and recycleable. The starting materials of the surfactant are renewable and inexpensive. The composition is non-toxic and biodegradable.

Abstract: A process for flocculating and dewatering oil sands fine tailings in a pipeline is provided, comprising: pumping a tailings feed having a solids content in the range of about 10 wt % to about 45 wt % through a pipeline; injecting an effective amount of a polymeric flocculant into the tailings feed to provide an initial quick dispersion of the polymeric flocculant into the tailings feed; and providing a subsequent conditioning environment to form flocs and release water without overshearing.

Abstract: A process for treating bitumen froth with paraffinic solvent is provided which uses three stages of separation. Froth and a first solvent are directed to a first stage at a solvent/bitumen ratio for precipitating few or substantially no asphaltenes. A first stage underflow is directed to a second stage and a first stage overflow is directed to a third stage. A second stage underflow is directed to waste tailings and the second stage overflow joins the first stage overflow. A third stage underflow is recovered as an asphaltene by-product and a third stage overflow is recovered as a diluted bitumen product. At least a second solvent is added to one or both of the second or third stages for controlling a fraction of asphaltenes in the third stage underflow. Asphaltene loss to waste tailings is minimized and asphaltenes are now recovered as asphaltene by-product.

Abstract: A method and system for determining particle size distribution and/or filterable solids in bitumen-containing fluid is described. A sample of bitumen-containing fluid, such as bitumen-froth feed, bitumen-froth solvent or paraffinic-froth-treated (PFT) bitumen-solvent is obtained. An optimized diluent combination is determined, comprising an aromatic or cycloaliphatic solvent such as toluene, benzene, naphthalene, xylene, anthracene, or cyclohexane together with a C3 to C12 paraffinic solvent. The combination is considered optimized when diluting the sample with the combination maintains substantially the same level of deasphalting in the diluted sample as in the undiluted sample. Upon dilution of the sample with optimized diluent combination, particle size distribution can be accurately determined using optical instrumentation, laser diffraction instrumentation, electrical counting instrumentation, or ultrasonic instrumentation.

Abstract: Relocatable systems and processes for processing oil sands are described. Relocatable components are employed to permit oil sand processing to be conducted near a mine face, and relocated as the mine face recedes. Flow of the slurry in combination with appropriate water injection through the relocatable pipeline causes agglomeration of fines within the slurry. Bitumen/solvent mixtures can be filtered from the agglomerates within downstream solvent extraction system components. A high quality bitumen product is formed, having water and solids content that exceeds downstream processing and pipeline requirements. Dry tailings may be back-filled in-pit.

Abstract: An improved system for removing bitumen from tar sands comprises a pre-treatment system utilizing a vibratory load hopper for classifying and sizing said tar sand particles communicating with a dryer for heating and drying said tar sand particles to a predetermined temperature thereby controlling the moisture content of said tar sands. An extraction system is also included for accepting said tar sands from the dryer comprising a plurality of extraction vessels arranged in series for transporting said tar sands from a first extraction vessel to a final extraction vessel. Furthermore, a solvent system for supplying a predetermined volume of solvent flow through said extraction vessels is employed, whereby solvent is supplied to the last extraction vessel and a solvent and bitumen mixture is withdrawn from the first extraction vessel.

Abstract: A process for removing residual bitumen from oil sands tailings is provided, comprising optionally diluting the tailings with sufficient water to yield a tailings feed having a solids content in the range of about 18 wt % to about 36 wt %; adding one or both of a coagulant and a flocculant to the tailings feed to form a centrifuge feed; centrifuging the centrifuge feed to produce a cake and a centrate having a solids content of less than about 3 wt %; introducing the centrate into a flotation device so that bitumen froth and cleaned centrate are formed; recycling the cleaned centrate as dilution water or discharging the cleaned centrate to a tailings pond, and further processing the bitumen froth from the flotation device either by returning it to the primary Extraction feed or by treating it in a new or existing froth treatment plant.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for extracting and upgrading heavy hydrocarbons from substrates such as oil sands, oil shales, and tar sands in a unitary operation. The substrate bearing the hydrocarbon is brought into contact with a supercritical or near-supercritical fluid, a source of hydrogen such as hydrogen gas, and a catalyst. The materials are mixed and heated under elevated pressure. As a consequence of the elevated temperature and pressure, upgraded hydrocarbon-containing material is provided in a single or unitary operation. In some embodiments, sonication can be used to improve the upgrading process. Fluids suitable for use in the process include carbon dioxide, hexane, and water. It has been observed that upgrading can occur within periods of time of a few hours.

Abstract: A method of extracting hydrocarbon-containing organic matter from a hydrocarbon-containing material includes the steps of providing a first liquid comprising a turpentine liquid; contacting the hydrocarbon-containing material with the turpentine liquid to form an extraction mixture; extracting the hydrocarbon material into the turpentine liquid; and separating the extracted hydrocarbon material from a residual material not extracted.

Abstract: Oil sands ore containing bitumen is treated in a reactor chamber by ultrasonic oscillations impact such that cavitation of ore molecules occurs. The disintegration of the pulsating bubbles in the cavitation results in the separation of the oil, water, sand and air fractions of the oil sands. The oil fraction may be continuously extracted for subsequent refining processes.

Abstract: An inline bitumen froth steam heater system including steam injection and static mixing devices is provided. The system heats and de-aerates input bitumen froth without creating downstream processing problems with the bitumen froth such as emulsification or live steam entrainment. The system is a multistage unit that injects and thoroughly mixes steam with bitumen resulting in output bitumen material having temperature of about 190° F. The system conditions a superheated steam supply to obtain saturated steam at about 300° F. The saturated steam is contacted with bitumen froth flow and mixed in a static mixer stage. The static mixers provide surface area and rotating action that allows the injected steam to condense and transfer its heat to the bitumen froth. The mixing action and increase in temperature of the bitumen froth results in reduction in bitumen viscosity and allows the release of entrapped air from the bitumen froth.