Experimental determination of butane dispersion in vapor extraction of heavy oil and bitumen

In this work, the dispersion of butane is experimentally determined during the vapor extraction (Vapex) of oil sands. The experiments are carried at room temperature using solvent butane at the dew point pressure. Athabasca bitumen packed with glass beads of different permeabilities is used as a porous medium in a cylindrical geometry. A detailed mathematical model is developed for solvent transfer into the medium and subsequent oil production. The concentration-dependent dispersion coefficient of butane is optimally determined by matching the experimental live oil production with the model-predicted one. Results are obtained for three different permeabilities of the medium.