RE:RE:AssumptionsLooks like Suncor got a patent for "treating high paraffin diluted bitumen" on November 13, 2018. Also got one on March 7, 2017. Not sure what the difference is between them. No mention of benzene in this process?
https://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=Suncor&s2=Benzene&OS=Suncor+AND+Benzene&RS=Suncor+AND+Benzene Process for treating high paraffin diluted bitumen Abstract A paraffinic solvent recovery process for treating high paraffin diluted bitumen includes supplying the latter to flashing apparatus; separating into flashed paraffinic solvent and diluted bitumen underflow; and returning a portion of the underflow as returned diluted bitumen into the high paraffin diluted bitumen prior to introduction into the flashing apparatus, at temperature and amount to shift asphaltene precipitation equilibrium to reduce asphaltene precipitation. The process includes pre-heating the high paraffin diluted bitumen by transferring heat from hot dry bitumen, flashed paraffinic solvent and/or a portion of diluted bitumen underflow. Flashed paraffinic solvent may contain residual light end bitumen contaminants that increase asphaltenes solubility and the process may include removing contaminants to produce reusable paraffinic solvent at given solvent-to-bitumen ratio range to maintain given asphaltene precipitation. The process may also include a bitumen fractionation column producing hot dry bitumen underflow containing at most 0.5 wt % paraffinic solvent
| Inventors: | Van Der Merwe; Shawn (Calgary, CA), Cheta; Ilie (Calgary, CA) |
| Applicant: | | Name | City | State | Country | Type |
Van Der Merwe; Shawn
Cheta; Ilie |
Calgary
Calgary |
N/A
N/A |
CA
CA | | |
| Assignee: | FORT HILLS ENERGY L.P. (Calgary, CA) |
| Family ID: | 46717646 |
| Appl. No.: | 15/430,166 |
| Filed: | February 10, 2017 |