Upstream

Bitumen (oil sands)

The exploration and production of crude oil and extra-heavy crude oil from oil sands, followed by further processing in refineries are becoming increasingly profitable. GEA's innovative process lines support the mineral oil industry in producing bitumen while providing flexibility, reliability and safety.

Bitumen
Benefits of our centrifuges
  • Suitable for high capacitys
  • Space-saving design
  • Low and easy maintenance
  • Environmental compliance
  • ATEX Zone 1 and/or 2 compliant
  • Inert gas blanketing available
Ensuring quality and efficiency in bitumen processing

Bitumen, a crucial component in the oil sands industry, requires careful processing to ensure its quality and usability. The presence of contaminants such as water, fine sand and clay can significantly impact the efficiency and safety of processing operations. Effective bitumen processing is essential to remove these impurities, ensuring that the final product meets the required standards for further refining and use. This not only extends the lifetime of the equipment but also enhances performance and reduces downtime.

GEA’s cutting-edge bitumen processing solutions

GEA offers state-of-the-art bitumen processing solutions based on advanced centrifugal separation technology that deliver high-performance results. Our centrifuges are designed to handle high throughput rates with exceptional separation accuracy, removing water, fine sand and clay from the bitumen. Continuous purification is critical, and GEA's reliable processing equipment, proven in the extreme conditions of oil sands mining, ensures optimum performance and minimal wear. 

In the bitumen process, our separators can be used for the conventional truck & shovel process as well as for the SAGD process (steam-assisted gravity drainage).

Flow chart_Truck _ Shovel mining

Optimizing truck & shovel mining operations with integration of advanced centrifugal technology

Flow chart_Steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) processing

Enhancing SAGD processing efficiency with cutting-edge centrifugal technology

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. The treated produced water has a much lower impact on downstream water treatment plants and the environment, while the recovered oil increases the efficiency of the entire process.

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