Bitumen Recovery from Indonesian Oil Sands Using ASP(Alkali, Surfactant and Polymer) Agent

A self-developed ASP agent was used to separate bitumen from Indonesia's oil sands by its comprehensive effect and the separation condition was well investigated. The bitumen extraction conditions for industrial application were recommended to cover a mixing temperature of 80℃, a mixing time of 40 min, a mass ratio of ASP agent to oil sands of 4:10, and a floating time of 10 min. Under the above conditions, the bitumen recovery was about 86% and the residual bitumen content in tailings was about 6%. The relationship between the residual bitumen content and the particle size of tailings was studied in order to find the way to reducing the residual bitumen content in tailings. The results showed that the residual bitumen content in tailings decreased with a decreasing tailings particle size. After being milled for 30 min with a mortar, the tailings was reprocessed via extraction by means of the ASP agent, and the residual bitumen content in tailings decreased from 5.47% to 1.25%, which could comply with the disposal requirements.

High-efficiency Extraction of Bitumen from Oil Sands Using Mixture of Ionic Liquid [Emim][BF_(4)] and Dichloromethane

An ionic liquid(IL),1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate([Emim][BF_(4)]),was used to enhance bitumen recovery from oil sands by dichloromethane solvent extraction.A multiphase system could be formed by simply mixing the components at ambient temperature,consisting of sands and clays,mixtures of ionic liquid and dichloromethane,and concentrated bitumen layer.The results demonstrated that[Emim][BF_(4)]increased the bitumen recovery up to 92%.Much less clay fines were found in the recovered bitumen than those formed by using dichloromethane solvent extraction alone,and the dichloromethane residue was not detected in the spent sands.We proposed that[Emim][BF_(4)]had an ability to reduce the adhesion of bitumen to sand,resulting in an improved separation efficiency.Furthermore,[Emim][BF_(4)]could facilitate the transfer of the extracted bitumen to the surface interface,and then the bitumen was auto-partitioned to a separate immiscible phase for ease of harvesting.This technology circumvented the issue of high consumption of distillation energy due to separation of bitumen phase and low boiling point of dichloromethane.[Emim][BF_(4)]and dichloromethane could be readily recycled through the system and used repeatedly.After ten cycles,the bitumen recovery remained above 88%.Initial scale-up work suggested that this approach would form the basis for a viable large-scale process.

Origin of Unliberated Bitumen in Athabasca Oil Sands

Oil sands contain a so-called organic rich solids component (ORS), i.e., solids whose surfaces are strongly associated with toluene insoluble organic matter (TIOM). Typically, humic material is the major component of TIOM. It provides sites for adsorption and chemical fixation of bitumen. This bound bitumen is “unliberated”, and considerable mechanical or chemical energy may be required to release it. In order to establish a correlation between bitumen recovery and ORS content, a few selected oil sands were processed in a Batch Extraction Unit (BEU). Analysis of the middlings and coarse tailings streams from these tests indicated a relatively constant bitumen to ORS ratio of 2.8±0.7. This value allows the liberated-unliberated bitumen balance (LUBB) to be calculated for any given oil sands. The amounts of bitumen recovered as primary froth during the BEU experiments are close to the estimated liberated bitumen contents in each case tested. This observation indicates that the liberated-unliberated bitumen calculation is an important quantitative parameter for prediction of bitumen recovery under specific recovery conditions. Preliminary results indicate that the ORS content of an oil sands may be estimated from the carbon content of bitumen free oil sands solids.

Selection of Extraction Solvents for Bitumen from Indonesian Oil Sands through Solubility Parameters

Indonesian oil sands were systematically separated to investigate their basic composition.The extraction effects of the solvents with different Hilderbrand solubility parameters(HSPs)on the bitumen of Indonesian oil sands were compared.Furthermore,the Hansen solubility combination parameter(HSCP)and Teas triangle were used to explore rules in the separation of oil sands bitumen via solvent extraction.Finally,the saturates,aromatics,resins,and asphaltenes(SARA)fractions of the bitumen from Indonesian oil sands were analyzed.The results showed that the Indonesian oil sands were oil-wet with a bitumen content of 24.93%.The solvent extraction for bitumen could be accurately and conveniently selected based on the solubility parameter.When the HSPs of the extraction solvent were around 18–19 and the HSCPs were closer to a certain range(δ_(d)=17.5–18.0,δ_(p)=1–3.5,and δ_(h)=2–6),the extraction effect of bitumen from Indonesian oil sands improved,and the primary component affecting the extraction rate of bitumen were asphaltenes.

The Caustic Alkali-free Water Extraction Agents for Treating Inner Mongolia Oil Sands

The caustic alkali-free water extraction agents were studied for treating the oil sands excavated from Inner Mongolia, China. Several kinds of chemical reagents were evaluated, among which sodium carbonate(SC), sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate(SD) and sodium chloride were confirmed as composite solutes. Their proportion was optimized by an orthogonal test. The optimum proportion of the composite agent covered 0.03% of SD, 0.50% of sodium chloride, 3.00% of SC, with the rest composed of water. The optimal operating condition was also confirmed. The oil sands were extracted at the following optimized conditions: a treating time of 15 min, a temperature of 80 ℃ and an extraction agent/feed ratio of 1:1, with the bitumen yield reaching more than 96%. The extraction agent after separation from the bitumen product can be recycled for reuse to carve out a good environmentally friendly route.

Processing of tailings in Canadian oil sands industry

Vast amounts of tailings are produced daily in bitumen extraction from the Athabasca oil sands. The coarse sand from the tailings stream is used to build dykes around the containment basin. The run off slurry arrives at the water’s edge in the tailings pond at a solids concentration of about 3%～8% by mass. Settling of the solids takes place "relatively fast", over several days, creating a "free water zone" that contains little solids. When the fine mineral solids concentration has reached about 15% by mass, the suspension develops non Newtonian properties. After 2～3 years, the suspension concentration reaches a value of about 30% by mass at which the settling rate becomes extremely slow. Methods to handle the already created tailings ponds and new approaches to eliminate the creation of new ones will be discussed both from the industrial and fundamental prospective.

Extraction of Energy Resources—Exploitation of the Canadian Oil Sands

Considerable reserves of oil sands are located in northernAlberta. Exploitation of these reserves has been instrumental in the development of theAlbertaeconomy. Mining and processing techniques, including “in situ” processing and surface mining/aqueous treatment, are presented. Oil assisted flotation and solvent extraction are discussed as possible future processing alternatives. Subsequent froth treatment and refining methods are described. The rapid expansion of bitumen processing in theFort McMurrayarea has drastically affectedAlberta’s economic, political and social policy. Corresponding strain has been placed on the regional ecosystem. A comparison between wind and bitumen as sources of energy is offered.

Reaction behavior of oil sand in fluidized-bed pyrolysis

The reaction behavior of oil sand from Inner Mongolia（China） were studied in a fluidizedbed pyrolysis process,and a comparative study was conducted on the properties of the liquid products obtained through fluidized-bed pyrolysis of oil sand and the native bitumen obtained by solvent extraction.The results indicated that the fluidized-bed pyrolysis,a feasible carbon rejection process,can be used to upgrade oil sand.The reaction temperature and time were found to be the key operating parameters affecting the product distribution and yields in fluidized-bed pyrolysis of oil sand.The optimal temperature was 490℃ and the most suitable reaction time was 5 min.Under these operation conditions,the maximum yield of liquid product was 80wt%.In addition,the pyrolysis kinetics of oil sand at different heating rates of 5,10,20 and 30℃/min was investigated using a thermogravimetric analyzer（TGA）.

克拉玛依油砂沥青油溶性降黏剂的制备及性能评价

以甲基丙烯酸十八酯、N-苄基马来酰亚胺和丙烯酰胺为原料合成了针对于克拉玛依油砂沥青的新型油溶性共聚降粘剂。对单体配比、引发剂用量、反应温度等影响条件进行了优化,探究了降黏剂用量和温度等因素对降黏效果的影响。确定了该降黏剂的聚合反应条件为:聚合单体摩尔比为10∶4∶3,引发剂用量为单体总质量的1.0%,反应温度为85℃。在降黏剂添加量1000 mg·kg^(-1),反应温度50℃,反应时间60 min时降黏效果最好,在此条件下的降黏率为35.7%。

Bulk and molecular composition variations of gold-tube pyrolysates from severely biodegraded Athabasca bitumen

Gold-tube pyrolysis experiments were performed on two Athabasca oil sand bitumens at 300℃to 525℃with 2℃/h rate and 25℃step under 50 MPa.Pyrolysis temperature of 425℃is critical for weight loss of bulk bitumen and hydrocarbon generation and destruction.Polar compounds are the main source of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbon,gas and coke fractions.Molecular compositions in pyrolyzates vary systematically with increasing pyrolysis temperatures.High molecular weight n-alkanes(C26^+) are gradually destructed during pyrolysis due to thermal cracking.Moderate molecular weight n-alkanes(C21-C25)show the highest thermal stability in designed pyrolysis temperatures.The loss of low molecular weight n-alkanes(C20^-)might be caused by volatilization during pyrolysis,which may alter commonly used molecular parameters such as∑n-C20^-/∑n-C21^+,Pr/n-C17 and Ph/n-C18.Aromatic hydrocarbons were generated from 300 to 425℃,then condensation and dealkylation have been initiated at 425℃as evidenced by decreased summed alkylnaphthalenes to alkylphenanthrenes ratios and increased unsubstituted aromatics to substituted homologs ratios in higher temperatures.The occurrence of anthracene and benz[a]anthracene in pyrolysates indicates pyrogenic origin,while fluoranthene shows unexpected behaviors during pyrolysis.Ratios derived from them are not always reliable for pyrogenic source input diagnosis in environmental samples.

内蒙古扎赉特旗油砂分离

研制YSFL系列油砂清洗剂,应用于内蒙古扎赉特油砂的分离,考察加热时间、温度、清洗剂质量分数等因素对油砂分离的影响,比较YSFL系列清洗剂对油砂的分离效果,并对分离的产品作简单的性质分析.结果表明,在适宜的温度(80～85℃)、适当的加热时间(15～20 min)、清洗剂质量分数为7%～10%和剂砂体积比为1:1的条件下,YSFL-1油砂清洗剂可以将油砂矿中油与砂较好的分离.清洗剂的过量和清洗剂浓度的过高都不利于油砂的分离.

新疆油砂水洗分离技术研究

用YSFL系列油砂水洗分离剂进行新疆沥青砂的水洗分离,综合考察水洗剂质量分数、加热温度、加热时间、剂砂比等因素对油砂分离的影响,比较YSFL系列水洗分离剂配方对油砂沥青的水洗分离效果.实验结果表明,在适宜水洗分离剂质量分数(5%)、适宜的加热温度(90℃)、适当的加热时间(20 m in)和剂砂质量比(2∶1)的条件下,YSFL-3油砂分离剂可以将油砂沥青中的沥青与石英砂实现较好的分离,油砂出油率可达94%以上.分离后的水性试剂可循环利用,对环境无污染.

内蒙古图牧吉油砂流化热转化反应规律

在小型流化热转化实验装置上,考察了内蒙古图牧吉油砂的流化热转化反应规律。得到最佳的反应条件为反应温度490℃、反应时间5 min、水/油质量比0.4、热载体/油砂质量比2。在此最优操作条件下,液体产品收率达到79.87%,轻油收率达到26.59%。随着图牧吉油砂流化热转化反应温度的升高,干气、液化气及汽油产率增加,这主要来自于重油的二次裂化。热转化后的液体产品相对于油砂沥青,残炭、微量金属含量及黏度都有大幅度的降低,同时馏程得到很大改善,有助于后续的加工利用。

柴达木盆地西部侏罗系油砂的发现及其意义

最近在柴达木盆地西部阿尔金断裂南侧地面剖面上侏罗统地层中首次发现了厚约９０ｍ的油砂及大量裂缝沥青脉。通过对这些油砂和沥青的分析研究发现，它们与柴达木盆地西部第三系原油差别较大，与柴达木盆地东部侏罗系原油较相似但也有一定差异。野外地质调查发现柴达木盆地西北部发育大量侏罗系烃源岩，其生物标志物等特征与这些油砂和沥青相似，综合分析认为这些油砂和沥青脉可能来源于成熟的侏罗系源岩。这些油砂的发现对柴达木盆地西北部及阿尔金断裂沿线盆地的油气勘探具有重要意义。

新疆西准噶尔布龙果尔古油藏的发现及其石油地质意义

本文记述了首次在西准噶尔布龙果尔地区发现的古油藏基本地质情况,探讨古油藏产出的地质层位及时代归属,对古油藏油源问题进行了初步分析,在此基础上提出古油藏成藏预测模式。认为上古生界古油藏所在的和布克河组一段地质时代为晚泥盆世法门期,中生界古油藏产出层位为下侏罗统八道湾组;推断和布克河组古油藏油源可能来自中泥盆统呼吉尔斯特组上亚组陆相烃源岩生成的油气,八道湾组古油藏油源可能来自上古生界海相烃源岩生成的油气;布龙果尔地区具有多期多源油气成藏特点,断层、不整合面和裂隙是油气运聚和调整的主要通道;和布克河组是北疆地区目前发现的最古老含油层系,对拓展该区油气勘探领域具有十分现实的指导意义。

油砂开发利用的研究进展

世界上油砂资源十分丰富,其探明储量换算成油砂油,远大于世界石油的探明储量。加拿大油砂储量居世界首位,其次为前苏联、委内瑞拉、美国和中国。油砂分离制取油砂油始于19世纪90年代末的加拿大,但由于在廉价原油的开采及油砂分离成本较高等因素的制约下,对油砂研究进展缓慢。当前,由于世界原油价格的不断上涨,油砂油的生产在不少国家已有利可图。中国在油砂分离方面的研究刚刚起步,目前仅处在实验室研究阶段。

溶剂萃取在油砂分离中的应用及发展

介绍了溶剂萃取在油砂中的应用和相关工艺,阐述了影响油砂溶剂萃取效果的因素,并对油砂溶剂萃取可能存在的两种过程机理进行了分析。根据溶剂萃取的特点,分析了其在油砂分离中的应用前景及建议。提出了一种集溶剂萃取、重油输送、溶剂循环利用于一体的溶剂萃取工艺流程。该工艺中采用的溶剂源于石油炼制的中间产品油,解决了溶剂来源问题;此外由于溶剂的稀释作用,解决了油砂沥青输送的问题,减少了添加剂的加入,也降低了对输送设备和后续炼油设备的损害。

沥青砂开采方法综述

沥青砂资源开采可分为就地和地表开采2类。就地开采中常使用热采、冷采和化学剂法,其中热采法细分为蒸汽吞吐、蒸汽驱和火烧油层等方法;地表开采中涉及到热碱水抽提、热碱水结合表面活性剂抽提、有机溶剂抽提和焦化法。将热采法与化学剂驱油方法相结合可以提高采油速度和采收率,是比较有前途的采油方法。热碱水提取法是地表开采中应用最广泛的方法,但它造成的环境污染比较严重;结合表面活性剂使用该方法可以提高沥青回收率,降低生产成本,减轻环境污染。

内蒙古油砂沥青热转化前后化学结构的变化规律

采用核磁共振和红外光谱分析方法对内蒙古3种油砂沥青及其流化热转化后的液体产品的化学结构进行了研究。通过用改进的Brown-Ladner法计算了油砂沥青及热转化后得到的液体产品的平均分子结构参数,发现热转化得到的液体产品平均分子结构参数发生了明显的改变。相对于原料油砂沥青,热转化液体产品的芳碳率fA略有增加、环烷碳率fN大幅度增加,而烷基碳率fp则明显减少,并且总环数RT从6.10~8.64下降到2左右,芳香环数RA从3.13~6.10下降到1左右,环烷环数RN也从2.22~3.42下降到1左右。3种不同性质油砂沥青的平均分子结构参数变化趋势相同,均归因于油砂沥青热转化过程中多环芳烃的聚合和长链烷烃侧链的断裂。

青海出露油砂沥青的烃类组成分析

利用气相色谱(GC)和气相色谱/质谱联机(GC/MS)检测了青海出露油砂沥青的烃类组成与分布。结果表明,其为陆源湖相有机质生成的原油经生物氧化降解形成的。由于所处的独特地理、地质环境,其生物氧化降解程度低,饱和烃含量甚高,分布规整,轻质组分很多,明显不同于其它地区的油砂沥青。鉴于其特殊的化学组成与分布,该油砂矿必须采用新的方式进行开采。