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Bitumen (oil sands)
Exploration and production of crude oil and extra-heavy crude oil from sand containing oil (bitumen) and the subsequent further processing in refineries are becoming increasingly profitable. Innovative process lines from GEA support the mineral oil industry in the production of bitumen, and provide convincing arguments with regard to flexibility, reliability and safety.
In an initial processing stage, the bitumen is washed out of the oil sands with hot water and solvent. The pretreated oil-water-sand mixture is then treated in several process stages by means of GEA centrifuges, which reliably remove water, salt and sediments.
Separators can also be used for treating the produced water
A further area of application for our centrifuges is to be seen in the treatment of the produced water from bitumen production. They separate the process water into a re-usable oil phase as well as a de-oiled water phase. Produced water which has been treated has a considerably lower impact on downstream water treatment systems and the environment, whereas the recovered oil boosts the efficiency of the overall process.
Bitumen production in a continuous process
Meeting the requirements of the mineral oil industry, our centrifuges provide convincing arguments not only in the form of their extremely simple operation, robust replaceable wear protection made from special materials and their high degree of automation; they also provide users with a high degree of flexibility: They automatically adapt to changing water and solid contents, also operate reliably in the face of changing oil characteristics, thus ensuring a constantly good separating efficiency in continuous operation. They also handle large volume streams safely and efficiently, and provide crude oil with maximum quality and maximum yields.
Products & Technologies
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Clarifying Decanter
Clarifying decanters are designed for the continuous separation of suspensions into solids and clarified liquid, without interrupting the feed of the suspension.
Nozzle Separator
Nozzle centrifuges are continuously operating machines that clarify liquids while concentrating solids. The concentrated solids are discharged continuously through nozzles. The clarified liquid is discharged by a built-in centripetal pump.
Separator
The separating centrifugal separator is a machine in which two liquids of different densities are separated from each other. Solids may also be separated at the same time.
GEA Insights
Separate from the rest
The story of the GEA centrifuge begins in 1893, when Franz Ramesohl and Franz Schmidt began production of their patented mechanical milk separator, paving the way for modern dairy processing. The innovation helped overcome a...
