Treatment of Tar Sand (Patent No: 741302)

Inventor: Atlantic Richfield Company

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Comments: N/A

Description: The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a process for preparing an easily processable bituminous sand and water pulp, said pulp being free of rock having a diameter greater than about 1 inch by mixing the bituminous sand with hot water and passing the pulp through a separating screen, the improvement which comprises passing a bituminous sand-water pulp containing a total of from about 20 to 40 weight per cent water through screen having openings of a size to retain solids having diameters greater than between about 0.5 and about 1.0 inches.

2. In a process for preparing a bituminous sand and water pulp at a temperature of from about 169 to 200°F by mixing tar sand with hot water and passing the pulp through a screen having openings of a size to remove rock greater than between about 0.5 and about 1 inch in diameter, the improvement which comprises passing a pulp containing between about 20 and about 40 weight per cent water through said screen.

3. The process for separating bitumen from bituminous sand containing the same which comprises:
a) forming an aqueous slurry of bituminous sand containing, between about 20 and about 40 weight per cent water and passing said slurry through. a screen having openings of a size to retain solids having diameters greater than between about 0.5 and about 1 inch;
b) then mixing said slurry with additional water under conditions of high energy input and air entrainment;
c) then introducing said slurry into a body of water in a separating zone whereby froth containing bitumen rises to the surface of said body of water and sand settles to the bottom thereof; and
d) recovering froth containing bitumen from said separating zone.

4. The process for the recovery of bitumen from bituminous sand containing the same which comprises:
a) mixing bituminous sand containing bitumen with steam and hot water to form an aqueous bituminous sand slurry containing between about 20 and about 40 weight per cent water and having a temperature between about 160 and about 200°F;
b) passing said slurry through a separating screen having openings of a size to retain on said screen solids having diameters greater than between about 0.5 and about 1 inch;
c) mixing said slurry wit)1 additional water under conditions of high energy input and air entrainment;
d) then introducing said slurry into a body of water maintained between about 160 and about 200°f in a separating zone whereby froth containing bitumen, rises, to the top of, said body of ,water and sand settles to the bottom thereof;
e} introducing additional air into said body or' water in the separation zone to further aid in separation of bitumen from sand; and
f) recovering froth containing bitumen from said separ.ation zone.