Patent ID: 8158000

Claim:
A system for separating hydrocarbons from a solid source, the system comprising: a mixer configured to produce a slurry comprising the solid source and a liquid; a first separator in fluid communication with the mixer, the first separator configured to separate hydrocarbons from the slurry; a second separator in fluid communication with the first separator, the second separator configured to receive the slurry from the first separator and separate additional hydrocarbons from the slurry; a separation vessel comprising a hydrocarbon remover in fluid communication with the first and second separators, the separation vessel configured to receive the separated hydrocarbons and remove residual liquid from the hydrocarbons, a collection vessel configured to receive hydrocarbons from the separation vessel; and a fine particle separator in fluid communication with the separation vessel, the fine particle separator configured to process the residual liquid to produce cleaned liquid and residual solids.