TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for extracting oil from the soil comprising oil or from the solid soil materials comprising oil or from ice. Especially the invention relates to a method for recovering bitumen or oil from oil sands. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Oil sands, or bituminous sands, are sandstone containing naturally occurring mixtures of sand, clay, and water, saturated with a dense and viscous form of petroleum (bitumen). Numerous techniques are exploited to extract bitumen or oil from the sands, such as open- pit mining and in-situ processes, with steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) being a commonly used in-situ method. Open-pit mining can be used to extract approximately 20% of the recoverable crude from oil sands, while in-situ methods, such as SAGD can be used to produce the remaining 80%. There are however some disadvantages relating to the known prior art, such as extremely heavy load for the nature. For example open-pit mining has enormous environmental footprint, because the method can only exploit resources near the surface. In addition in the in-situ methods piping for driving steam into the soil ground and introducing with the oil sand as well as other piping for gathering the released oil with water into the process is at first very challenging but also quite expensive task, and again causes heavy environmental load, because the oil/water emulsion will easily leak into the environment, such as groundwater, rivers and lakes and thereby contaminating river and lake system. Moreover many chemicals are also used for extracting oil from the solids, which again is high environmental risk.

In addition water treatment is very challenging task when it is used e.g. for providing steam into the subsoil and/or in the extraction or delivering process of oil. For example steam generation uses huge amount of water of which about 90-95% needs to be cleaned and recycled to make the whole process sustainable. The reusing water is challenging because of the high concentrations of suspended solids, as well as dissolved organic and inorganic materials. Moreover, according to estimations about 60-70% of total operating cost can be associated with steam-generation-boiler consumption of natural gas. Still the particularly high system temperatures and unique physical properties of the produced fluids make SAGD emulsions difficult to break and often require unusually large chemical-dose rates to produce dry oil. The total cost e.g. of chemical treatments can increase to unsustainable levels, if necessary mechanical and chemical improvements are not implemented.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to alleviate and eliminate the problems relating to the known prior art. Especially the object of the invention is to provide an easy and fast method for extracting oil or bitumen or other fluid from a solid material, such as oil sands so that the energy consumption as well as environmental pollution and using of water can be minimized.

The object of the invention can be achieved by the features of independent claims. The invention relates to a method presented in claim 1 and to an apparatus presented in claim 10. According to the invention oil or bitumen is extracted from the soil comprising oil or from the solid soil materials comprising oil, such as oil sand, or from ice by using hot liquid. The soil or soil particles are brought in touch with any kind of hot liquid. The hot liquid may be pumped into the soil or ground so that the heat of the hot liquid extracts oil or bitumen from the soil.

Both the hot liquid pumped into the soil and the oil or bitumen extracted from the soil are collected and pumped up together. Also solid soil soil particles, such as oil sand or ice can be dropped into a hot liquid so that the heat of the hot liquid extracts oil or bitumen from the soil particles. The oil or bitumen extracted from the soil material into the hot liquid is collected separately from the surface of the hot liquid or as a mixture together with the hot liquid.

The oil or bitumen may be extracted from the soil or from the solid soil material in two or more processes. The liquid used in any of the processes may be any kind of hot oil only or hot water only. However, in the total process there may also be several successive steps or processes where in one or several processes the soil or the solid materials are brought into contact with any kind of hot oil and/or in one or several processes the soil or the solid materials are brought into contact with hot water, in the sequent processes hot oil and/or hot water are used in any order, but advantageously the process using hot oil is before the process using hot water. Then one ore several hot water processes follow. However, the processes using any kind of hot oil and the processes using hot water may also be mixed randomly and used in any number and in any sequent order.

The apparatus for extracting oil or bitumen from the soil comprising oil or bitumen or from the solid soil materials comprising oil or bitumen, such as oil sand, or ice provides at least one container for hot liquid, at least one device for conducting hot liquid from the container into the soil in order to extract oil or bitumen from the soil, or at least one device for transferring the solid soil material into the container containing hot liquid in order to extract oil or bitumen from the solid soil material. A pump will pump hot oil or hot water from the container into the soil, or a conveyer will transfer the solid soil material into the container containing hot oil or hot water. There may also be two or more containers, which contain hot oil or hot water, two or more pumps for pumping hot oil and/or hot water into the soil, or two or more conveyers for transferring the solid soil material from a container containing hot oil or hot water to another container containing hot oil or hot water.

According to the invention oil or bitumen is extracted from the soil comprising oil or bitumen by using hot oil. So the hot oil can be conducted into the soil comprising oil so that the oil heats the soil and also the oil in the soil up to the temperature where the oil in the soil becomes into liquid form and extracts from the soil. Then the oil extracted from the soil is collected. The oil conducted into the soil and the oil extracted from the soil form an oil mixture, an in the process at least the first part of the said oil mixture will be heated and conducted back into the soil. The second part of the oil mixture will be the collected.

In the process a continuous cycle is achieved, where a part of the oil in the process will be conducted back into the soil or ground. Because the oil causes the extraction of new oil from the soil, all of the oil collected is not necessary to conduct back into the soil. The other part of the oil can be conducted away from the extraction process to a storage container. At the beginning of the process any kind of hot oil can be conducted into the soil so that the hot oil forms an oil mixture with the oil extracted from the soil. A a part of the oil mixture is heated and conducted back into the soil so that the process continues without need of addition of supplement oil into the process. In the apparatus for oil extracting oil from the soil there is a heater for heating the oil, a feeder for conducting the heated oil into the soil, a device for collecting the oil mixture comprising the oil conducted into the soil and the oil extracted from the soil and a device for dividing the oil mixture flow into two parts. A pipeline is conducting the first part of the oil mixture via the heater back into the soil, and the second pipeline is conducting the second part of the oil mixture into a storage container or to a continuation process. According to the invention oil or bitumen is extracted from any kind of soil, such as oil sand, or any solid soil. Advantageously the soil will be excavated and crushed to form the soil proper for extracting process. The excavated soil will be brought to the processing apparatus and transferred into a container or the first container or the first separator. The container is filled with hot oil, which can be any oil but advantageously similar to the oil to be extracted from the soil. The oil is heated by a heater so that the oil is in a proper temperature for extracting oil or bitumen from the soil. The temperature is advantageously as close as possible to the flash temperature of the oil to be extracted. A perforated plate spreads the soil when it goes down towards the bottom of the container. Then at least a part of the oil provided by the soil will be extracted and will mix with the oil, which is already in the container. Because the oil amount in the container will increase, the additional oil will be conducted into a storage container or for further processing.

When the soil particles have sunk at the bottom of the container a remarkable part of the oil or bitumen content of the soil was extracted and released into the oil in the container or the first separator. However, these soil particles still contain some oil or bitumen. Therefore the soil particles will be transferred into another container or the second container or the second separator via a conveyer, which is filled with hot water. The water is heated by a heater so that the temperature of the water is advantageously as close to the boiling point of the water as possible. In the second container again a part of the oil or bitumen extract from the soil. Because the extracted oil or bitumen is lighter than water, it rises up to the water surface. When a sufficient layer of oil or bitumen is formed on the surface of water, the oil can be conducted out from the second container into the storage container or somewhere else for waiting continuation process and/or transporting. After the processes in the containers, the oil or bitumen content of the soil particles is very small. However, in order to further strengthen the process there can be successively two or more oil containers, like the first container, and successively two or more water containers, like the second container. The soil particles, which have sunk to the bottom of the second container, will be transferred into a combustion chamber. In the combustion chamber there is a flame, which has been achieved by burning gas or some other combustible material. The soil, which is conducted into the flame, contents only small amount of oil or bitumen and in the combustion process the rest of the oil or bitumen in the soil will burn. The soil particles will fall down to the bottom of the combustion chamber and can be transferred for any kind of utilization. Finally there is no oil or bitumen residue in the soil or the oil content of the soil is very small. According to the invention first fluid, such as oil or bitumen, is extracted from a solid material, such as oil sand, ice or the like. According to an aspect the extraction process of oil or bitumen from said solid material is implemented by a second fluid in a separator. The second fluid may be e.g. water or already extracted oil or bitumen. In the embodiment said second fluid is advantageously heated to a temperature being higher than the temperature of the solid material with said first fluid. For example if water is used as said second fluid, it is typically heated to 80-100°C. By heating the second fluid the extraction process is much faster and effective than if the second fluid was cooler. According to warming embodiment the extraction process starts immediately when the oil sand, for examples, hits the hot water in the separator.

The second fluid is chosen so that its specific weight differs essentially from the specific weight of the first fluid to be extracted, whereupon the extraction may performed via gravity so that the fluid having smallest specific weight is separated into the upper part of the separator having at least two different fluids, so in the case of water and oil sand, oil is separated above to the water portion and sand is sunk at the bottom of the separator (water being between the sand and oil layers)

According to an embodiment the solid material having said first fluid (like oil sand, where oil or bitumen is adhered e.g. to sand grains) is introduced into the separator filled with said second fluid. Advantageously the solid material is introduced into the upper portion of the separator either directly with the water or with the already extracted oil/bitumen floating in the upper portion of the separator,

When the oil/bitumen is extracted, the residual solid material (like sand) is then driven outside from the separator. In addition also the first fluid (e.g. oil or bitumen) extracted from said solid material is driven outside from the separator, such as into the oil tank, refinery or storage for later processing.

According to an embodiment said heating of the second fluid is implemented by a heating apparatus or means so that the second fluid flow between said separator and the heating apparatus is transferred in a closed circulation cycle. In addition according to an embodiment the extraction process is a continuous process so that new solid material (including oil or bitumen or the like) may be continuously fed into the separator, whereupon the extraction process happens continuously, as well also the removing of the residual solid material, as sand. The continuous transfer of the oil sand into the separator, as well as also the removing of the residual sand (from which the oil is already essentially extracted) can be performed by a conveyor belt or the like. The gathering of the extracted oil/bitumen can be performed by pipes, possibly assisted by pumps.

The present invention offers advantages over the known prior art, such as minimizing the environmental loading caused by the water used in the extracting process, because the water is used in a closed circulation. In addition the mined solid material, such as sand or other soil material can be restored back to the original environment where it was mined, because the residual oil after the extraction process (if any) is burned by the combustion chamber so that the residual solid material after the combustion process does not essentially include any oil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Next the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to exemplary embodiments in accordance with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 presents schematically an apparatus for extracting oil from the soil comprising oil according to prior art.

Figures 2-4 present schematically an apparatus for extracting oil from the soil comprising oil according to the invention.

Figures 5-6 illustrate a principle of an exemplary apparatus for extracting first fluid, such as oil or bitumen, from a solid material, such as oil sand or ice according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, and

Figures 7-8 illustrates exemplary upper portions for the apparatus according to an

advantageous embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 presents an apparatus 10 according to prior art, where hot steam provided in a steam generator 31 is conducted into a borehole 21 in the ground. When the hot steam penetrates into soil 1 1 around the borehole 21 the stiff oil or bitumen contained in the soil will get hot and softer and turns into liquid. Then the liquid oil or bitumen will be mixed into an emulsion with water, which is formed when the steam cools down. The emulsion flows down through the soil, effected by gravity, into the second borehole 22 underneath, from where the emulsion will be pumped up to the separator 32. In the separator 32 oil and water will be separated, and the oil will be conducted into the storage container 50 for waiting continuation process and/or transporting.

The water extracted from the emulsion is conducted from the separator 32 via water purifier 33 into water container 34. Then the water in the water container 34 can be reused and to heat as steam in the steam generator 31 , from where the steam can be conducted back into the borehole 21 in the ground 1 1 . In the apparatus according to Figure 1 at least a part of the water can be recycled and reused, but the use of the apparatus is

complicated and it requires much energy.

Figure 2 presents an apparatus 10 according to the invention, where hot oil is conducted into a borehole 21 in the ground 1 1 . The used oil is taken for example from an oil container 41 , where the oil can be almost any type of oil, because the needed amount of oil is very small and it is needed only at the beginning of the process. Advantageously the used oil is pure crude oil or vegetable oil. The oil is heated in the heater 42 and conducted into the first borehole 21 . The hot oil is heating the soil 1 1 around the borehole 21 so that the oil or bitumen contained in the soil gets hot and will be softer and turns into liquid. Then the oil conducted into the soil 1 1 and the oil extracted from the soil 1 1 will mix together as a liquid oil mixture, which will flow down into the second borehole 22 and pumped up.

Because now more oil will be pumped up than was conducted into the soil 1 1 , the upward flow of oil mixture can be divided into two parts by using a distributing valve 43. The first part of the flow will be conducted from the distributing valve 43 via pipeline 44 into the heater 42 and then back into the borehole 21 in the ground 1 1 . The second part of the oil mixture will be conducted from the distributing valve 43 via pipeline 45 into the storage container 50 for waiting continuation process and/or transporting. The benefit of the apparatus 10 according to the invention and presented in Figure 2 is that in the process there are no challenging mixtures or compounds, such as the emulsion of mixed water and oil. Advantageously in the process the same oil will be recycled, which is intended to be extracted from the soil. No environment problems will be caused because in the invention the heating liquid is oil, which already exists in the nature being a natural substance. Figure 3 presents an example of an apparatus for extracting oil or bitumen from the soil. The soil to be processed can be any kind of soil, such as oil sand, or any solid soil, which will be excavated and advantageously crushed to form the soil proper for extracting process. The excavated soil 60 will be brought to the processing apparatus for example by a vehicle 83. Then the conveyer 67 transfers the soil 60 into a hot oil bath in a container 61 , which is the first separator. The container 61 is advantageously funnel-like so that at least one wall is inclined or there is at least one perforated plate 63, which spreads the soil when it goes down towards the bottom 64 of the container 61 by the effect of gravity.

Advantageously the perforated plate 63 forms an angle β with the horizontal plane, the angle fi being advantageously about 60 - 80 degrees.

The container 61 or the first separator presented in Figure 3 is filled with hot oil 65, which advantageously is similar to the oil to be extracted from the soil 60. The oil 65 in the container 61 is heated by a heater 66 so that the oil is in a proper temperature for extracting oil or bitumen from the soil 60. The temperature is advantageously as close as possible to the flash temperature of the oil to be extracted. The heater 66 in the container 61 can be for example a heating coil, which is connected by heating ducts 86 to a combustion chamber 80 or other heating device. Advantageously the soil 60 providing oil or bitumen will be crushed in a continuous process in order to be fine-grained before conducting it into the container 61 via a conveyer 67, such as a belt conveyer.

In Figure 3 the container 61 is provided with a pipeline 68 for conducting the oil extracted from the soil 60 out from the container 61 into a storage container 69 or for further processing. Advantageously the pipeline 68 is provided with a valve and a pump. At the beginning of the process the pipeline 68 can also be used for transferring oil from the storage container 69 into the container 61 or the first separator. When the oil in the container 61 is heated up and hot enough the soil 60 material will be dropped into the oil 65 in the container 61. Because the soil 60 material is heavier than oil 65, the soil 60 will sink by the effect of gravity into the bottom 64 of the funnel-like container 61. Because of the inclined wall or the perforated plate 63 in the container 61 the fine-grained soil 60 material will be spread and tumbled when sinking down to the bottom 64 of the container 61. In order to get more effective motion for the solid soil 60 particles the container 61 may also be provided by a blender. The purpose of the movements of the soil 60 particles in hot oil bath is to extract more effectively oil or bitumen out from soil 60 particles. The soil 60 particles at the bottom 64 of the container 61 have already been in the extraction process so that a remarkable part of the oil or bitumen content of the soil 60 was extracted and released into the oil 65 in the container 61 or the first separator.

For further processing the soil 60 particles, which have sunk at the bottom 64 of the container 61 will be transferred into another container 72 or the second separator via a conveyer 71 . For regulating the amount of the soil 60 material to be transferred, at the bottom 64 of the container 61 there may be a gate 70, which allows a proper amount of the soil 60 to be delivered into the second container 72. The gate 70 can be controlled manually or it may function automatically. In the automatic operation the gate 70 may be provided by a sensor, which will recognize the weight of the soil 60 above the gate 70. The sensor opens the gate 70 when it is proper for the process.

In the apparatus and process presented in Figure 3 there is the second container 72 or the second separator, which is filled with hot water 73. The water 73 is heated by a heater 76, such as a heating coil, which is connected by heating ducts 87 to a combustion chamber 80 or other heating device. The temperature of the water 73 is advantageously as close to the boiling point of the water as possible.

The second container 72 in the Figure 3 is also advantageously funnel-like so that at least one wall is inclined or there is at least one perforated plate, which spreads the soil when it goes down towards the bottom 77 of the container 72 by the effect of gravity.

Advantageously the perforated plate forms an angle β with the horizontal plane, the angle β being advantageously about 60 - 80 degrees. For more effective motion for the solid soil 60 particles the container 72 may also be provided by a blender.

In the process the soil 60 particles conducted into the second container 72 have already been in the extraction process in the first container 61 and a remarkable part of the oil or bitumen content of the soil 60 was extracted. However, these soil 60 particles still contain some oil or bitumen. Therefore the soil 60 particles are transferred into the hot water in the second container 72, where again a part of the oil or bitumen extract from the soil 60. Because the extracted oil or bitumen is lighter than water 73, it rises up to the water surface. When a sufficient layer 74 of oil or bitumen is formed on the surface of water 73, the oil can be conducted out from the container 72 via a pipeline 75 into the storage container 69 for waiting continuation process and/or transporting. Advantageously the pipeline 75 is provided with a valve and a pump. After the extraction processes in containers 61 and 72, the oil or bitumen content of the soil 60 particles is very small. However, in order to further strengthen the process there can be successively two or more oil containers, like the first container 61 , and successively two or more water containers, like the second container 72. The soil 60 particles, which have sunk to the bottom 77 of the second container 72, will be transferred via a conveyer 78 into a combustion chamber 80. At the bottom 77 of the container 72 there may be a gate 79, which allows a proper amount of the soil 60 to be delivered into the combustion chamber 80. This the second gate 70 can be controlled manually or it may function automatically the same way as described earlier with the first gate 70.

In the combustion chamber 80 there is a flame, which has been achieved by burning gas or some other combustible material. The soil 60, which is conducted into the flame, contents only small amount of oil or bitumen. In the combustion process the rest of the oil or bitumen in the soil 60 will burn. So the soil 60 particles, which fall down to the bottom 81 of the combustion chamber 80 can be transferred for example via a conveyer 82 and by a vehicle 83 for any kind of utilization. Then there is no oil or bitumen in the soil 60 or the oil content of the soil 60 is very small.

The combustion chamber 80 in Figure 3 is also useful in heating the oil in the container 61 and in heating the water in the container 72, which are used in the process. So the first heater 85, such as heating coil in the combustion chamber 80 is connected via heating ducts 87 to the heater 66 in the first container 61. And the second heater 84, such as heating coil in the combustion chamber 80 is connected via heating ducts 86 to the second heater 76 in the second container 72. However, the containers 61 and 72 can also be heated by some other heating devices.

It is also possible that the water provided in the soil 60 particles can be utilized and recycled. The water of the soil 60 particles, which will be evaporated in the combustion chamber 80, will be condensed and conducted back to water container 72.

Figures 4-6 illustrate a principle of an exemplary apparatus 100 for extracting first fluid, such as oil or bitumen, from a solid material, such as oil sand or ice according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, and Figures 7-8 exemplary upper portions for the apparatus 100 according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention.

An apparatus 100 for extracting first fluid 101 , such as oil or bitumen or other viscous media, from a solid material 103, such as oil sand or ice or the like, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one separator 104, which comprising a second fluid 102, such as e.g. water, used for extracting the first fluid from the solid material 103. The apparatus 100 comprises an introduction portion 105, such as an opening in the upper portion of the separator, for introducing said solid material still including said first fluid. The apparatus comprises also a driving means 106, like a belt, for feeding said solid material 103 for the process. Alternatively the solid material 103 can also be fed by other ways, such as by a tractor loader or the like.

The separator 104 advantageously comprises the second fluid 102, which is heated to a temperature being higher than the temperature of the solid material 103 including the first fluid. The second fluid is advantageously water heated to 80 - 100°C, as an example. According to an embodiment the second fluid may also be oil or bitumen 101 already extracted from the solid material 103. However, according to an advantageous embodiment the specific weight of the second fluid (e.g. water) differs (essentially) from the specific weight of the first fluid to be extracted (oil or bitumen), so that when said solid material still including oil/bitumen is introduced into said extraction process, oil or bitumen 101 will be separated into the upper portion of the separator 104, so i.e. over the water layer 102, where it is easy to gather. The residual sand is then sunk at the bottom 107 of the separator, from where the sand removed for example by a conveyor belt 108 or the like driving means. As a conclusion the separator 104 is configured to allow said extraction to happen via gravity so that the medium having greater specific weight, such as water or sand, is configured to flow into the lower part of said separator 104.

The apparatus advantageously comprises a first driving means, such as e.g. a conveyor belt 108 or the like advantageously within a tube 109, for driving said residual solid material out from the bottom 107 part of the separator 104. In addition the apparatus also comprises a second driving means 1 10 for driving said first fluid, like oil or bitumen, extracted from said solid material outside from the separator. The second driving means may be for example a tube or pipe, possibly assisted with a pump, via which the extracted oil/bitumen is transferred into a tank 1 1 1 or other processing unit.

The apparatus 100 is according to an embodiment configured to heat said second fluid 102 in order to fasten and intensifying the extraction process. The apparatus may comprise a heating apparatus 1 13 for this purpose. Advantageously the apparatus comprises a closed circulation cycle 1 12 transferring said second fluid 102 in a closed manner between the separator 104 and said heating apparatus 1 13.

According to an embodiment the first driving means 108 may be e.g. an inclined conveyor belt 108 configured to drive the residual solid material from the bottom portion 107 of the separator 104 either into another subsequent separator 104, a combustion chamber 1 13, or otherwise outside from the separator 104.

According to another embodiment said the first driving means 108 may be e.g. a funnel like structure 1 14 in connection with an opening at the bottom portion of said separator 104. The funnel like structure 1 14 may comprise at least one gate member 1 15 configured sequentially to close and open the flow of said extracted solid material outside from said separator 104 through said bottom opening. Advantageously the first and all subsequent separators are connected to each other via the conveyor belt like driving means 108, but the last one (which is typically the combustion chamber) comprises the bottom opening provided with the gate member 1 15 and the funnel like structure.

The combustion chamber 1 13 is one of said subsequent separators 104 configured to burn the residual oil possibly still comprised said extracted solid material after at least one previous separator 104. The combustion chamber is advantageously configured also to heat said second fluid via said closed circulation cycle 1 12 using the heat generated by the burning process in the combustion chamber 1 13.

According to an embodiment the angle of inclination 1 16 (a) of the separator 104 (or at least its wall) is adjustable, whereupon the subsiding time, and thereby also the extraction time of the first fluid from the solid material is adjustable via said changeable angle of inclination.

In addition, the apparatus 100 may further comprise at least one conduit 1 17 configured to introduce a third fluid 1 18 into the second fluid comprised by the separator so that said third fluid 1 18 induces internal upward flows (like bubbles) in said second fluid thereby increasing resistance between the second fluid and sinking solid material, as well as thereby also increasing the subsiding time of the solid material through said second fluid. The third fluid may advantageously be hot steam or gas, like air, the specific weight of which is advantageously smaller than the one.of said second fluid. Still according to an embodiment said third fluid may be combustion gas produced in the burning process by the combustion chamber 1 13. The heating of the third fluid is also implemented by the heat produced by the combustion chamber 1 13.

The separator 104 may also comprise a funnel like 1 19 means in connection with the introduction portion 105 in its upper portion. The funnel like means is advantageously configured to introduce the solid material 103 including the first fluid essentially through the upper fluid layer 101 formed by previously extracted first fluid in said separator, whereupon the extraction process is still made more effective. In addition, according to an embodiment the apparatus 100 may be configured to warm also already extracted oil or bitumen 101 and arrange it into the upper portion of the separator 104 (e.g. via help of gravity and specific weight differences between the first and second fluid). Then the solid material 103 may be introduced first with the already extracted and warmed oil or bitumen in the upper portion 101 , whereupon the extraction process of incoming solid material (with oil/bitumen) will start much faster.

Still in addition the apparatus may comprise a moistening device 120, such as hot watering device, for moistening the solid material 103 before introducing it into the separator 104 in order to start the process already before the separator and thereby extending the extraction time of the first fluid from the solid material.

The apparatus 100 may in addition comprise a recovery means, such as grid, inclined tube 109 or the like for recovering the second fluid 102 of the residual solid material, when said residual solid material is driven away from the separator 104 by the conveyor belt 108 or the like. For example the inclined tube makes it possible to recycle the water (or other second fluid) used in the extracting process, because the water will flow downward back to the separator inside the inclined tube 109.

The apparatus may also comprise a crushing device 121 for crushing the solid material 103 before introducing it into the separator into the smaller particles. Advantageously the smaller particles have size of 0.1 - 5 mm, more advantageously of 0.2 - 3 mm, and most advantageously of 0.5 - 2.5 mm.

Even though only one separator 104 and combustion chamber 1 13 are described in this description, the apparatus 100 may naturally comprise plurality of subsequent separators 104 and combustion chambers 1 13. According to the invention the apparatus can also be a mobile apparatus, for extracting e.g. oil or bitumen from oil sand, is introduced, where the mobile apparatus comprises a separator 104 as is described elsewhere in this document. The separator advantageously comprise, during the extraction process, a second fluid 102, e.g. water, used for extracting oil or bitumen 101 from the solid material 103.

The separator of the mobile apparatus is advantageously configured to allow the extraction to happen via gravity so that the medium having greater specific weight, such as water 102 or sand 107, is configured to flow into the lower part of the separator 104, and the oil or bitumen having smaller specific weight is configured to flow into the upper part 101 of the separator 104

The mobile apparatus advantageously comprises also an introduction portion 105 for introducing the solid material 103 into the separator The apparatus is advantageously coupled with a first driving means 108 for driving the residual solid material 103 outside from the separator In addition the apparatus may be coupled (or it may comprise) a second driving means 1 10 for gathering and driving the first fluid (e.g. oil, bitumen) 101 extracted from the solid material 103 outside from the separator 10 Moreover the apparatus may comprise an output for feeding the second fluid into a heating means for heating said second fluid, as well as an inlet for inputting said heated second fluid from the heating means back to the extraction process

Advantageously the second fluid flow between the separator 104 and said heating means 1 13 is implemented by a closed circulation cycle Advantageously the mobile apparatus is configured to be coupled with at least one another mobile apparatus via said second driving means 108, said introduction portion and/or the openings 105, 1 14, 1 15.

When number of separators 104 (or mobile apparatuses) are coupled to each other, that may have a common driving means, such as a tube, pipe or the like (possibly assisted with a pump) for driving the first fluid 101 (e.g. oil, bitumen) extracted from said solid material 103 from each of the separators 104 to a subsequent refinery end 1 1 1

The invention has been explained above with reference to the aforementioned

embodiments, and several advantages of the invention have been demonstrated It is clear that the invention is not only restricted to these embodiments, but comprises all possible embodiments within the spirit and scope of the inventive thought and the following patent claims it is to be noted that due to the mobile apparatus structure the oil extracting apparatus can be scaled for the current needs in each area or reserve. In addition the apparatus structure makes it possible to easily build up the apparatus independently of the size of the reservation Even the material already extracted by another method can further be processed by the method of the current invention In addition, due to the closed circulation of the second fluid (typically water), the invention offers remarkable advantages over the known prior art solutions, because there is no need for external water source (like a lake or river) but the water needed in the process can even be provided by a tank truck In addition the risk for polluting an environment is effectively minimized

REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 Apparatus

21 Borehole

22 Borehole

31 Steam generator

32 Separator

33 Water purifier

34 Water container

41 Oil container

42 Heater for oil

43 Distributing valve

44 Pipeline

45 Pipeline

50 Storage container

61 Container

62 Wall

63 Perforated plate

64 Bottom

66 Heater

67 Conveyer

68 Pipeline

69 Storage container

70 Gate

71 Conveyer

72 Container

73 Water

74 Oil layer

75 Pipeline

76 Heater

Bottom

78 Conveyer

79 Gate

80 Combustion chamber Bottom

Conveyer

Vehicle

Heater

Heater

Heating duct

Heating duct

Apparatus

First fluid

Second fluid

Solid materia

Separator

Introduction portion

Driving means

Bottom

Conveyor belt

Tube

Driving means

Tank

Closed circulation cycle

Heating apparatus

Funnel like structure

Gate member

Angle

Conduit

Third fluid

Funnel like means

Moistening device

Crushing device