US 11,697,984 B2
System and process for producing diluent from dilbit, transportation, and treatment of heavy oil
Kelly Margaret Bell, Foothills (CA); Eusebio Palmisano, Calgary (CA); Michael Somerville, Calgary (CA); Michael Douglas Stillwell, Calgary (CA); Meghan Elizabeth Butler, Edmonton (CA); Dahai Dong, Calgary (CA); Steve Hicks, Calgary (CA); and Timothy Michael Koskowich, Calgary (CA)
Assigned to Cenovus Energy Inc., Calgary (CA)
Filed by Cenovus Energy Inc., Calgary (CA)
Filed on Nov. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/535,639.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/118,855, filed on Nov. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0170354 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. C10G 1/00 (2006.01); E21B 43/24 (2006.01); C10G 33/06 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/2408 (2013.01) [C10G 1/002 (2013.01); C10G 33/06 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for producing diluent for use in a hydrocarbon recovery process, the process comprising:
heating a dilbit feed stream, the dilbit feed stream comprising hydrocarbons produced from a hydrocarbon reservoir and an added diluent added to the hydrocarbons to reduce the viscosity of the hydrocarbons for transport, wherein the dilbit feed stream is heated to a temperature of 350° C. or less with heat derived from process heat exchange;
fractionating the dilbit feed stream after the heating to produce a light fraction and a heavy fraction, the light fraction comprising the diluent, additional light hydrocarbons derived from the hydrocarbons, and sour water;
separating the sour water from a remainder of the light fraction; and
stabilizing the remainder of the light fraction to provide recovered diluent and cooling the recovered diluent, wherein a volume of the recovered diluent is greater than a volume of the added diluent.