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: The present invention provides a method for extracting bitumen from an oil sand stream, the method comprising at least the steps of, a) providing an oil sand stream; b) contacting the oil sand stream with a liquid comprising a solvent to obtain a solvent-diluted oil sand slurry; c) separating the oil sand slurry to obtain a first solids-depleted stream and a first solids-enriched stream; d) filtering the first solids-enriched stream obtained in step c) to obtain bitumen-depleted sand and at least a first filtrate; e) separating at least a part of the first filtrate to obtain a second solids-depleted stream and a second solids-enriched stream; and f) contacting at least a part of the second solids-enriched stream from step e) with solvent to obtain a solvent-diluted second solids-enriched stream; and g) separating the solvent-diluted second solids-enriched stream to obtain a third solids-enriched stream and a third solids-depleted stream.

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 liquid comprising a solvent thereby obtaining a solvent-diluted oil sand slurry; (c) separating the solvent-diluted oil sand slurry, thereby obtaining a first solids-depleted stream and a first solids-enriched stream; (d) filtering the first solids-enriched stream obtained in step (c), thereby obtaining bitumen-depleted sand and at least a first filtrate; (e) separating at least a part of the first filtrate thereby obtaining a second solids-depleted stream and a second solids-enriched stream; and (f) reusing at least a part of the second solids-enriched stream as obtained in step (e) in the contacting of step (b) or the separating of step (c).

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 liquid comprising a solvent thereby obtaining a solvent-diluted oil sand slurry; (c) separating the solvent-diluted oil sand slurry, thereby obtaining a first solids-depleted stream and a first solids-enriched stream; (d) filtering the first solids-enriched stream obtained in step (c), thereby obtaining bitumen-depleted sand and at least a first filtrate; (e) increasing the S/B weight ratio of at least a part of the first filtrate by combining it with a stream having a higher S/B weight ratio thereby obtaining a combined stream; and (f) separating the combined stream, thereby obtaining a second solids-depleted stream and a second solids-enriched stream.

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: 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: The present invention provides a method for extracting bitumen from an oil sand stream, the method comprising at least the steps of, a) providing an oil sand stream; b) contacting the oil sand stream with a liquid comprising a solvent to obtain a solvent-diluted oil sand slurry; c) separating the oil sand slurry to obtain a first solids-depleted stream and a first solids-enriched stream; d) filtering the first solids-enriched stream obtained in step c) to obtain bitumen-depleted sand and at least a first filtrate; e) separating at least a part of the first filtrate to obtain a second solids-depleted stream and a second solids-enriched stream; and f) contacting at least a part of the second solids-enriched stream from step e) with solvent to obtain a solvent-diluted second solids-enriched stream; and g) separating the solvent-diluted second solids-enriched stream to obtain a third solids-enriched stream and a third solids-depleted stream.

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 liquid comprising a solvent thereby obtaining a solvent-diluted oil sand slurry; (c) separating the solvent-diluted oil sand slurry, thereby obtaining a first solids-depleted stream and a first solids-enriched stream; (d) filtering the first solids-enriched stream obtained in step (c), thereby obtaining bitumen-depleted sand and at least a first filtrate; (e) increasing the S/B weight ratio of at least a part of the first filtrate by combining it with a stream having a higher S/B weight ratio thereby obtaining a combined stream; and (f) separating the combined stream, thereby obtaining a second solids-depleted stream and a second solids-enriched stream.

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 liquid comprising a solvent thereby obtaining a solvent-diluted oil sand slurry; (c) separating the solvent-diluted oil sand slurry, thereby obtaining a first solids-depleted stream and a first solids-enriched stream; (d) filtering the first solids-enriched stream obtained in step (c), thereby obtaining bitumen-depleted sand and at least a first filtrate; (e) separating at least a part of the first filtrate thereby obtaining a second solids-depleted stream and a second solids-enriched stream; and (f) reusing at least a part of the second solids-enriched stream as obtained in step (e) in the contacting of step (b) or the separating of step (c).

Abstract: A method and cyclonic separator are disclosed for degassing a fluid mixture comprising a carrier liquid and one or more gaseous and/or vaporizable components, wherein: —the fluid mixture is accelerated in a throat section (6) of a vortex tube (1) such that the static pressure of the fluid mixture is decreased and vaporizable components evaporate into a gaseous phase; —the accelerated fluid mixture is induced to swirl within the vortex tube such that the fluid mixture is separated by centrifugal forces into a degassed liquid fraction and a gas enriched fraction; —the degassed liquid fraction is induced to flow into a liquid outlet conduit (4) which is located at or near the outer circumference of the vortex tube (1); and—the gas enriched fraction is induced to flow into a gas outlet conduit (3) which is located at or near a central axis of the vortex tube (1).

Abstract: A method and cyclonic separator are disclosed for degassing a fluid mixture comprising a carrier liquid and one or more gaseous and/or vaporizable components, wherein: —the fluid mixture is accelerated in a throat section (6) of a vortex tube (1) such that the static pressure of the fluid mixture is decreased and vaporizable components evaporate into a gaseous phase; —the accelerated fluid mixture is induced to swirl within the vortex tube such that the fluid mixture is separated by centrifugal forces into a degassed liquid fraction and a gas enriched fraction; —the degassed liquid fraction is induced to flow into a liquid outlet conduit (4) which is located at or near the outer circumference of the vortex tube (1); and—the gas enriched fraction is induced to flow into a gas outlet conduit (3) which is located at or near a central axis of the vortex tube (1).