Water Separation Performance in Bitumen Recovery from Athabasca Oil Sands: Implementation of Separation Efficiency Index

The oil (diluted bitumen)–water separation efficiency at steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process conditions has been evaluated in a laboratory environment by using custom-built batch setup, SAGD field fluids and commercial gas condensate as diluent. key parameters investigated are solvent amount, shear conditions, water-to-oil ratio, the presence wettability of fine solids. results demonstrate complexity oil–water process, affected dependence from one another. A new quantification approach is introduced to facilitate evaluation, based on proposed descriptor, referred index (SEI). Defined average residual water-in-oil oil-in-water indices, SEI ranges 0 1, where 1 represents “perfect” (complete) corresponds complete emulsification. allows describe throughout entire vessel volume, discrete vertical water distribution profiles, with single number, regardless experimental taken. findings show that range concentrations 30 vol % or lower, mixing speed affects performance becomes predominant relatively low 10 20 %. amount added overcomes all other effects highest addition (40 50 %) range. water-wet solids improves performance, while oil-wet impedes separation. presented this study, particular SEI, important for improving can be used develop operational envelopes injection strategies, terms location, stages, further quality product obtained SAGD.