Patent ID: 8382976
Filing Date: 2013-02-26
Classification: B03D,C10G

Abstract:
1. A method for recovering a tailings bitumen from a froth treatment tailings comprising solid mineral material, water, and an original amount of the tailings bitumen, wherein the froth treatment tailings result from a process for recovering bitumen from oil sand, wherein the process for recovering bitumen from oil sand is comprised of producing a bitumen froth from the oil sand, and wherein the process for recovering bitumen from oil sand is further comprised of separating the froth treatment tailings from the bitumen froth in a froth treatment process, the method comprising: (a) providing a first feed material which is derived from the froth treatment tailings, wherein the first feed material consists essentially of solid mineral material, water, a first feed material amount of the tailings bitumen, and an amount of a froth treatment diluent; (b) conditioning the first feed material in order to produce a conditioned first feed material, wherein conditioning the first feed material is comprised of agitating the first feed material in order to facilitate separation of the tailings bitumen from the solid mineral material, and wherein the conditioned first feed material is comprised of solid mineral material, water, and a conditioned first feed material amount of the tailings bitumen; (c) providing a second feed material which is derived from the conditioned first feed material, wherein the second feed material is comprised, of solid mineral material, water, and a second feed material amount of the tailings bitumen; (d) subjecting the second feed material to solvent extraction in order to produce an extract comprising solid mineral material, water, and an extract amount of the tailings bitumen; and (e) clarifying the extract in order to produce a clarified extract, wherein the clarified extract is comprised of solid mineral material, water, and a clarified extract amount of the tailings bitumen, and wherein a concentration of the solid mineral material and the water by weight in the clarified extract is less than a concentration of the solid mineral material and the water by weight in the extract.