Patents Assigned to Epic Oil Extractors, LLC
  • Patent number: 10519380
    Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing a crude oil composition from oil sand using a solvent comprised of a hydrocarbon mixture to extract or remove only a portion of the bitumen on the oil sand. The solvent type and the manner by which the extraction process is carried out has substantial impact on the quality of the extracted oil component. The solvent is designed so that it has the desired Hansen solubility parameters that enable the partial extraction of the desired oil composition. The solvent is further designed so that it can be comprised of multiple hydrocarbons having the appropriate boiling point ranges that enable the solvent to be easily recovered and recycle, without the need to externally provide for solvent make-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: EPIC OIL EXTRACTORS, LLC
    Inventors: Edward L. Diefenthal, Richard D. Jordan, Richard H. Schlosberg
  • Patent number: 10508242
    Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing a crude oil composition from oil sand using a solvent comprised of a hydrocarbon mixture to extract or remove only a portion of the bitumen on the oil sand. The solvent type and the manner by which the extraction process is carried out has substantial impact on the quality of the extracted oil component. The solvent is designed so that it has the desired Hansen solubility parameters that enable the partial extraction of the desired oil composition. The solvent is further designed so that it can be comprised of multiple hydrocarbons having the appropriate boiling point ranges that enable the solvent to be easily recovered and recycle, without the need to externally provide for solvent make-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: EPIC OIL EXTRACTORS, LLC
    Inventors: Edward L. Diefenthal, Richard D. Jordan, Richard H. Schlosberg
  • Patent number: 9809765
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing a transportation fuel from a high quality oil sands-derived crude oil. The oil sands-derived crude oil is provided as a feed source for a catalytic conversion reaction, which produces the product useful as the transportation fuel. The oil sands-derived crude oil has an ASTM D7169 5% distillation point of from 400° F. to 700° F. Transportation fuel is produced from the provided oil sands-derived crude oil by treating the oil sands-derived crude oil through at least one catalytic cracking process and mild hydrotreating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Epic Oil Extractors, LLC
    Inventors: Richard H. Schlosberg, Richard D. Jordan
  • Patent number: 9809757
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing crude oil and bitumen products of relatively high quality from oil sand. The processes for producing the high quality crude oil and bitumen products involve a Phase I and/or Phase II extraction solvent. According to the Phase I process, a high quality bitumen-derived crude oil can be produced using a Phase I type solvent. According to the Phase II process, a substantial amount of the bitumen on the oil sand can be extracted using a Phase II type solvent, while producing a relatively dry tailings by-product. The Phase I and Phase II extraction processes can be carried out independently or in conjunction with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Epic Oil Extractors, LLC
    Inventors: Richard H. Schlosberg, Richard D. Jordan, Edward L. Diefenthal
  • Patent number: 9790441
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for extracting deasphalted crude oil from oil sand. Deasphalted crude oil can be extracted using a hydrocarbon recycle solvent stream having specified Hansen blend parameters, with the oil sand being contacted with the hydrocarbon recycle solvent stream in a contact zone of a vessel to separate not greater than 80 wt % of the bitumen present on the oil sand. The separated bitumen is considered a deasphalted crude oil stream, since it has an asphaltenes content substantially lower than that of the total bitumen initially present on the oil sand. The deasphalted crude oil stream can be treated using a hydrotreating catalyst or catalytic cracking catalyst to produce transportation fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: EPIC OIL EXTRACTORS, LLC
    Inventors: Richard H. Schlosberg, Richard D. Jordan, Edward L. Diefenthal
  • Patent number: 9765260
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for extracting an oil composition from oil sand. The extraction process is carried out using a fluidizing medium to fluidize oil sand particles within a contact zone in which the fluidizing medium contacts the oil sand and maintains the oil sand in the fluidized state. At least a majority of the fluidizing medium is in a vapor or supercritical state within the contact zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Epic Oil Extractors, LLC
    Inventors: Richard D. Jordan, Richard H. Schlosberg
  • Patent number: 9540569
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing bitumen-derived crude oil and heavy bitumen compositions from oil sand. The processes involve treating oil sand feedstock with a first hydrocarbon solvent comprised of propane to produce the bitumen-derived crude oil composition having an asphaltene content of not greater than 5 wt % pentane insoluble, and an oil-depleted oil sand. The oil-depleted oil sand is treated with a second hydrocarbon solvent comprised of propane and a fraction of the bitumen-derived crude oil composition to produce the heavy bitumen composition and oil sand tailings. The oil sand tailings are dried by contacting the tailings with a drying composition comprised of a majority of propane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Epic Oil Extractors, LLC
    Inventors: Richard H. Schlosberg, Richard D. Jordan, Edward L. Diefenthal
  • Patent number: 9447330
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing crude oil and bitumen products of relatively high quality from oil sand. The processes for producing the high quality crude oil and bitumen products involve a Phase I and/or Phase II extraction solvent. According to the Phase I process, a high quality bitumen-derived crude oil can be produced using a Phase I type solvent. According to the Phase II process, a substantial amount of the bitumen on the oil sand can be extracted using a Phase II type solvent, while producing a relatively dry tailings by-product. The Phase I and Phase II extraction processes can be carried out independently or in conjunction with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Epic Oil Extractors, LLC
    Inventors: Richard H. Schlosberg, Richard D. Jordan, Edward L. Diefenthal
  • Patent number: 9422482
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing deasphalted bitumen and heavy bitumen compositions from oil sands and processes for upgrading the bitumen compositions. The processes for producing the deasphalted bitumen and heavy bitumen compositions involve a Phase I and/or Phase II extraction solvent. According to the Phase I process, a high quality oil sands-derived, deasphalted bitumen can be produced using a Phase I type solvent. According to the Phase II process, a substantial amount of the heavy bitumen on the oil sand can be extracted using a Phase II type solvent, while producing a relatively a tailings by-product that is non-harmful to the environment. The heavy bitumen from the Phase II type extraction process can be hydroprocessed for ready conversion into relatively high volumes of high quality transportation fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Epic Oil Extractors, LLC
    Inventors: Richard H. Schlosberg, Edward L. Diefenthal, Richard D. Jordan
  • Patent number: 9410089
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing bitumen-derived crude oil and heavy bitumen compositions from oil sand. The processes involve treating oil sand feedstock with a first hydrocarbon solvent comprised of propane to produce the bitumen-derived crude oil composition having an asphaltene content of not greater than 5 wt % pentane insoluble, and an oil-depleted oil sand. The oil-depleted oil sand is treated with a second hydrocarbon solvent comprised of propane and a fraction of the bitumen-derived crude oil composition to produce the heavy bitumen composition and oil sand tailings. The oil sand tailings are dried by contacting the tailings with a drying composition comprised of a majority of propane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Epic Oil Extractors, LLC
    Inventors: Richard H. Schlosberg, Richard D. Jordan, Edward L. Diefenthal
  • Patent number: 9340748
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for separating a solute from a solute-bearing material. A substantial amount of solute is extracted from the solute-bearing material by contacting particles of the solute-bearing material with globules of an extraction solvent. The particle size of the solute-bearing material and the globule size of the extraction solvent are balanced such that little if any solute or extraction solvent remains in the solute-bearing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Epic Oil Extractors, LLC
    Inventor: Darrell J. Phillips
  • Publication number: 20150175894
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing bitumen-derived crude oil and heavy bitumen compositions from oil sand. The processes involve treating oil sand feedstock with a first hydrocarbon solvent comprised of propane to produce the bitumen-derived crude oil composition having an asphaltene content of not greater than 5 wt % pentane insoluble, and an oil-depleted oil sand. The oil-depleted oil sand is treated with a second hydrocarbon solvent comprised of propane and a fraction of the bitumen-derived crude oil composition to produce the heavy bitumen composition and oil sand tailings. The oil sand tailings are dried by contacting the tailings with a drying composition comprised of a majority of propane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: EPIC OIL EXTRACTORS, LLC
    Inventors: Richard H. SCHLOSBERG, Richard D. JORDAN, Edward L. DIEFENTHAL
  • Publication number: 20150175892
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing crude oil and bitumen products of relatively high quality from oil sand. The processes for producing the high quality crude oil and bitumen products involve a Phase I and/or Phase II extraction solvent. According to the Phase I process, a high quality bitumen-derived crude oil can be produced using a Phase I type solvent. According to the Phase II process, a substantial amount of the bitumen on the oil sand can be extracted using a Phase II type solvent, while producing a relatively dry tailings by-product. The Phase I and Phase II extraction processes can be carried out independently or in conjunction with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: EPIC OIL EXTRACTORS, LLC
    Inventors: Richard H. SCHLOSBERG, Richard D. JORDAN, Edward L. DIEFENTHAL
  • Publication number: 20150090641
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for extracting deasphalted crude oil from oil sand. Deasphalted crude oil can be extracted using a hydrocarbon recycle solvent stream having specified Hansen blend parameters, with the oil sand being contacted with the hydrocarbon recycle solvent stream in a contact zone of a vessel to separate not greater than 80 wt % of the bitumen present on the oil sand. The separated bitumen is considered a deasphalted crude oil stream, since it has an asphaltenes content substantially lower than that of the total bitumen initially present on the oil sand. The deasphalted crude oil stream can be treated using a hydrotreating catalyst or catalytic cracking catalyst to produce transportation fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: EPIC OIL EXTRACTORS, LLC
    Inventors: Richard H. SCHLOSBERG, Richard D. JORDAN, Edward L. DIEFENTHAL
  • Publication number: 20150090634
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing a transportation fuel from a high quality oil sands-derived crude oil. The oil sands-derived crude oil is provided as a feed source for a catalytic conversion reaction, which produces the product useful as the transportation fuel. The oil sands-derived crude oil has an ASTM D7169 5% distillation point of from 400° F. to 700° F. Transportation fuel is produced from the provided oil sands-derived crude oil by treating the oil sands-derived crude oil through at least one catalytic cracking process and mild hydrotreating process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: EPIC OIL EXTRACTORS, LLC
    Inventors: Richard H. SCHLOSBERG, Richard D. JORDAN
  • Patent number: 8741144
    Abstract: The process and apparatus are for removing a solute from a solute-bearing solid product by means of a solvent which remains in liquid state throughout the entire oil extraction process. In one embodiment, the solvent is normally in gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure values, but is used mainly in liquid state within the method and apparatus of the present invention by maintaining such pressure and temperature values within the apparatus so that the solvent will remain in this liquid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Epic Oil Extractors, LLC
    Inventors: Darrell J. Phillips, George Baxter Russell
  • Publication number: 20130233772
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for extracting an oil composition from oil sand. The extraction process is carried out using a fluidizing medium to fluidize oil sand particles within a contact zone in which the fluidizing medium contacts the oil sand and maintains the oil sand in the fluidized state. At least a majority of the fluidizing medium is in a vapor or supercritical state within the contact zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: EPIC OIL EXTRACTORS, LLC
    Inventors: Richard D. Jordan, Richard H. Schlosberg
  • Patent number: 8398857
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for separating a solute from a solute-bearing material. A substantial amount of solute is extracted from the solute-bearing material by contacting particles of the solute-bearing material with globules of an extraction solvent. The particle size of the solute-bearing material and the globule size of the extraction solvent are balanced such that little if any solute or extraction solvent remains in the solute-bearing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Epic Oil Extractors, LLC
    Inventor: Darrell J. Phillips
  • Publication number: 20120261313
    Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing a crude oil composition from oil sand using a solvent comprised of a hydrocarbon mixture to extract or remove only a portion of the bitumen on the oil sand. The solvent type and the manner by which the extraction process is carried out has substantial impact on the quality of the extracted oil component. The solvent is designed so that it has the desired Hansen solubility parameters that enable the partial extraction of the desired oil composition. The solvent is further designed so that it can be comprised of multiple hydrocarbons having the appropriate boiling point ranges that enable the solvent to be easily recovered and recycle, without the need to externally provide for solvent make-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: EPIC OIL EXTRACTORS, LLC
    Inventors: Edward L. Diefenthal, Richard D. Jordan, Richard H. Schlosberg
  • Publication number: 20120091041
    Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing a crude oil composition from oil sand using a solvent comprised of a hydrocarbon mixture to extract or remove only a portion of the bitumen on the oil sand. The solvent type and the manner by which the extraction process is carried out has substantial impact on the quality of the extracted oil component. The solvent is designed so that it has the desired Hansen solubility parameters that enable the partial extraction of the desired oil composition. The solvent is further designed so that it can be comprised of multiple hydrocarbons having the appropriate boiling point ranges that enable the solvent to be easily recovered and recycle, without the need to externally provide for solvent make-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: EPIC OIL EXTRACTORS, LLC
    Inventors: Edward L. Diefenthal, Richard D. Jordan, Richard H. Schlosberg