A method and apparatus for the hydraulic removal of bitumen from a
tar sand deposit comprises forming a borehole into the
tar sand deposit and securing a casing into the borehole. Into the casing is inserted a mining tool having a water /
diluent channel and a
slurry exit channel. Through the casing the borehole is charged with crushed aggregate. At the lower end of the tool are nozzles through which
high pressure hot water /
diluent is injected as a jet from the water /
diluent channel into the
tar sand deposit causing a cavity to form in the tar sand deposit. The heat of the water / diluent jets and dissolving action of the diluent softens the tar sand contacted and the
impact of the jets and the scouring action of the aggregate, as impinged upon by the jets, removes the tar sand from the surface of the developing cavity into a water phase. A bitumen / diluent phase rises to the surface of the water phase and is removed from the cavity through the casing. A water sand
slurry at the bottom of the developing cavity is removed from the
slurry exit channel where sand is subsequently removed and the water is recovered and reintroduced back into the process along with makeup water and diluent.
Water temperature and pressures are controlled to optimize the
hydraulic mining process.