Patent ID: 10160914

Abstract:
Processes and systems for the above ground extraction of crude oil from a mud-water slurry well bore mined from oil rich diatomite formations. The slurry is separated into liquid and solid factions, the liquid faction having oil, water and small sized solids, and the solid faction having larger chunks of solids. The solids faction is processed to form a slurry mixture which is cooked to disassociate oil therefrom and is centrifuged to yield an oil/solvent faction, a water faction, and a lowered oil content solids faction. The oil/solvent faction is further processed to separate the oil and solvent. Alternately, the mud-water slurry is treated to form an emulsion having a neutral pH, with solids being removed and the remaining emulsion processed to break the emulsion by removal of water as a vapor to recovery crude oil, with remaining crude oil in the solids being further processed.