Oil Sand Hot Water Extraction Laboratory Study

Oil sands are mixture of bitumen, water and sand. Oil sand is one of non-traditional resources. China is abundant of oil sand resources, but research and development of oil sand in China just began. At present, the commercial method to extract bitumen from oil sand is Hot Water Extraction Process. Through characteristics and hot water extraction studies of Jilin, Inner Mongolia, xinjiang oil sands, the influencing factors of HWEP are studied systematically.China oil sands have high bitumen content and good quality, which make them very valuable for development. The results of experiments show that HWEP suit most of China oil sans, but extracting conditions are different. The most important influencing factors of HWEP are sodium hydroxide content and temperature. Increasing temperature and sodium hydroxide content both improve HWEP effects. There is an optimal sodium hydroxide content. Considering thoroughly about all factors, the most proper method for oil sand of different locations are offered, optimized working condition is given as well. Finally, a simplified model is put forward to explain hot water extraction process in math-ematic way.