Patent ID: 6357526
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
A process for recovering a pumpable crude oil from a subterranean reservoir of heavy oil or bitumen, comprising the steps of:(a) injecting steam through one or more injection wells completed in communication with the reservoir to mobilize the heavy oil or bitumen; (b) producing the mobilized heavy oil or bitumen from at least one production well completed in the reservoir; (c) fractionating the heavy oil or bitumen produced from step (b) at a location adjacent to the reservoir into a first fraction as a minor amount of the heavy crude comprising a gas oil fraction and second fraction comprising a residue; (d) solvent deasphalting the second fraction of the heavy oil or bitumen produced from step (c) to form an asphaltene fraction and a deasphalted oil fraction essentially free of asphaltenes; (e) combusting the asphaltene fraction from step (d) to produce the steam for injection step (a); (f) blending the first fraction from step (c) with the deasphalted oil fraction from step (d) to form a pumpable synthetic crude oil; and (g) pipelining the synthetic crude oil to a location remote from the reservoir.