Patent ID: 7749378
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
1. An integrated process for transporting and upgrading heavy oil or bitumen, comprising: diluting the heavy oil or bitumen at a production site with a diluent comprising a hydrocarbon having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms to form a mixture; transporting the mixture from the production site to a solvent deasphalting unit; deasphalting the mixture in the solvent deasphalting unit to recover an asphaltene fraction, a deasphalted oil fraction essentially free of asphaltenes, and a solvent fraction; separating water and salts from the asphaltene fraction, the deasphalted oil fraction, and the solvent fraction at the solvent deasphalting unit; and conveying at least a portion of the solvent fraction to the production site to dilute the heavy oil or bitumen and form the mixture.