141 |
Process and apparatus for refining sand |
US14877306 |
2015-10-07 |
US09744537B2 |
2017-08-29 |
Anthony Convery; Glenn Sloan |
A process for refining sand for use as frac sand includes the steps of passing the sand through a first fines separation stage to remove fine particles of contaminant from the sand, reducing the water content of the sand (such as to less than 20%), passing the sand into an attrition scrubber unit containing moving blades to delaminate clay and other contaminants from the sand grains, passing the sand from the attrition scrubber unit through a second fines separation stage to separate fine contaminants from the sand, and dewatering the resulting sand product in a further dewatering stage. |
142 |
Processing combustible material methods and systems |
US13956418 |
2013-08-01 |
US09447331B2 |
2016-09-20 |
Alexander Brodt |
Methods, systems and units for liquefaction of combustible material are provided. After separating the combustible material from waste rock gravitationally in an aqueous salt solution selected to have a density which is intermediate between a density of the combustible material and a density of the waste rock and after heating and grinding the separated combustible material to yield a paste of purified combustible material, the paste is fluidizing and hydrogenated underground in a hydrogenation chamber including a Segner turbine. The described processes significantly reduce the energy consumption of the process, remove environmental hazards and result in more efficient liquefaction with respect to existing technologies. |
143 |
RECOVERING MATURE FINE TAILINGS FROM OIL SANDS TAILINGS PONDS |
US14832632 |
2015-08-21 |
US20160228796A1 |
2016-08-11 |
Rade Svorcan |
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for recovering mature fine tailings (MFT) from oil sands tailings ponds. Some examples include a hollow, fully enclosed around its perimeter, ideally of cylindrical form, open bottom structure (a hollow conduit), of predetermined geometry, which is placed at the pond surface. The hollow conduit can penetrate MFT deposits to or below a level at which MFT of required density is located. A width or diameter of the hollow conduit can be determined with respect to the MFT inflow velocity and the corresponding shear rate, so as to enable MFT flow into the hollow conduit at a rate matching a rate at which the MFT is removed from the pond (e.g., a recovery rate). An MFT fill level inside the hollow conduit can be kept constant and equal to a required fill level throughout MFT recovery operations. MFT can enter the hollow conduit during MFT recovery operations solely under action of hydraulic head pressure. MFT can be transferred from within the hollow conduit utilizing a mechanical device such as a pump or a siphon, for transfer to shore based facilities and further processing. |
144 |
Mechanical processing of oil sands |
US13579276 |
2011-02-14 |
US09387483B2 |
2016-07-12 |
Thomas Duma |
A method of extracting bitumen from oil sands having a transition temperature at which the oil sands solidify includes forming formable oil sands into pellets and cooling at least a surface of the pellets sufficiently to prevent the pellets from aggregating; cooling the pellets to below the transition temperature; fracturing the pellets to release the bitumen from the oil sands while maintaining the temperature of the pellets below the transition temperature; and separating the bitumen from the oil sands in a separator. |
145 |
System and method for the treatment of oil sands |
US13310226 |
2011-12-02 |
US09375725B2 |
2016-06-28 |
Gregory J. Kimball; Joseph Merwyn Bonem; David Lonnie Phillips |
Extraction of bitumen from oil sands may generate oil sands tailings mixed with a liquid. Systems may be used to separate the liquid from the tailings so the tailings can be disposed or otherwise reclaimed. In some examples, a system includes a primary separation vessel configured to receive oil sands tailings mixed with water and to separate the oil sands tailings into a plurality of layers, where at least one of the plurality of layers includes a mature fines tailing material. The system may include an apparatus configured to receive the mature fines tailing material from the primary separation vessel and to mechanically separate a portion of the water in the mature fine tailings material. The system may also include an apparatus configured to receive a concentrated oil sands tailings material and to thermally evaporate water from the concentrated oil sands tailings materials, thereby producing trafficable dried oil sands tailings. |
146 |
Single solvent method and machine for separating bitumen from oil sand |
US13855440 |
2013-04-02 |
US09303212B2 |
2016-04-05 |
Michael James Flegal |
A single solvent method and machine for separating bitumen from oil sand ore are disclosed. The method includes the use of a single light paraffinic solvent, such as propane or butane as the agent to separate the bitumen from mined oil sand ore. Since light paraffinic solvents are vapors at atmospheric pressure and temperatures, the ore is placed in a pressurized container so that the solvent remains in a liquid state. When the container is pressurized, by the addition of the solvent itself, the liquid solvent is mixed with the ore to effect separation. The proposed machine settles more than 80% of the solids out under gravity in a modest period of time. The solvent-bitumen mixture is drained after the cleaning cycle, the container is depressured to a vapor recovery system and the remaining solids dumped out. The fine solids, drained with the liquids, are separated from the liquid mixture with relative ease by the use of current technology in other downstream equipment. |
147 |
Apparatus and methods for removing hydrocarbons and other adherents from sand |
US13809310 |
2011-07-08 |
US09296953B2 |
2016-03-29 |
Paul Newman; Mazen Markabi |
A system for removing hydrocarbons and other contaminants from sand and/or drill cuttings includes screening large debris from a first loading inlet hopper (101) to a screen covered receiving hopper (102) that may contain a chopper and chemical additive nozzles (105). A first inclined auger (104) receives the material from hopper (102) at its lower inlet port and conveys the material upwards dropping it into a hopper (106) and then to a unit (107) either of which may include a crasher (106). Unit (107) includes an eductor (109) which feeds the screened and treated sand slurry to desanding units (112) such as hydro cyclones. The underflow from the desanders is sent to an auger tank's (114) first compartment (113) while the overflow is sent to its second compartment (115) where a flow distributing conduit (117) that disperses it over the surface of both compartments (113), (115). The auger tank (114) employs horizontal augers (116) that are arterial both the first and second compartments (113) and (114). Second compartment (115) contains inclined plate separators (118) and sparging tubes (119). Overflow from auger tank (114) is sent to another two compartment separator (120). The first compartment (121) which receives the overflow from auger tank (114) includes a weir-type partition topped by an oil skimmer (123) connected to a voiding pump (125) feeding an oil tank (124) and defining a horizontal gap with the two compartment separator tank bottom as at (121). Clean water passing through the bottom weir is allowed to spill over the top of the an uppermost weir in the two compartment separator tank (120) into clean water collection tank (122) from when it is recycled to other components of the system. The undertow recovered from the auger separation tank (114) may be further decontaminated by sending it via an inclined conveyor to a serial connection with a second system similar to the one described herein above. |
148 |
Mobile oil sands mining system |
US13230738 |
2011-09-12 |
US09016799B2 |
2015-04-28 |
Bradford E. Bjornson; Mario Decrescentis; John Steven Little; Paul Fredrick MacDougall |
A method of increasing a dwell time of a slurry facility at a given ore processing location by using a mobile oil sands mining system. The method involves coordinating the operation of at least two mining conveyors to facilitate mining at least one arc-shaped sector of ore that otherwise would not be within operational reach of the slurry facility at the ore processing location. The method increases the slurry facility's operational time at the ore processing location before relocation thereof is required to keep the slurry facility within operational reach of at least one receding mine face. |
149 |
System and method for extracting bitumen from tar sand |
US12727892 |
2010-03-19 |
US08696891B2 |
2014-04-15 |
Larry W. Hastings |
An improved system for removing bitumen from tar sands comprises a pre-treatment system utilizing a vibratory load hopper for classifying and sizing said tar sand particles communicating with a dryer for heating and drying said tar sand particles to a predetermined temperature thereby controlling the moisture content of said tar sands. An extraction system is also included for accepting said tar sands from the dryer comprising a plurality of extraction vessels arranged in series for transporting said tar sands from a first extraction vessel to a final extraction vessel. Furthermore, a solvent system for supplying a predetermined volume of solvent flow through said extraction vessels is employed, whereby solvent is supplied to the last extraction vessel and a solvent and bitumen mixture is withdrawn from the first extraction vessel. |
150 |
Methods for remediating drill cuttings and other particulate materials |
US13620262 |
2012-09-14 |
US08668634B2 |
2014-03-11 |
Rod Wick |
Methods for separating liquids, such as oils from solids, such as drill cuttings, apply a centrifuge to process a solids-enriched output of a fluids/solid separation device. The centrifuge may be a horizontal decanter-type centrifuge. The output may be heated. In example implementations the centrifuge has a bowl angle of four degrees or less and a low fluid depth of two inches or less. The fluids/solids separation device may comprise a shale shaker and/or a main centrifuge for example. The output material may have a relatively high initial solids content, such as 50% or more. |
151 |
METHODS FOR REMEDIATING DRILL CUTTINGS AND OTHER PARTICULATE MATERIALS |
US13620262 |
2012-09-14 |
US20130012372A1 |
2013-01-10 |
Rod WICK |
Methods for separating liquids, such as oils from solids, such as drill cuttings, apply a centrifuge to process a solids-enriched output of a fluids/solid separation device. The centrifuge may be a horizontal decanter-type centrifuge. The output may be heated. In example implementations the centrifuge has a bowl angle of four degrees or less and a low fluid depth of two inches or less. The fluids/solids separation device may comprise a shale shaker and/or a main centrifuge for example. The output material may have a relatively high initial solids content, such as 50% or more. |
152 |
Method and apparatus for processing a sized ore feed |
US12242642 |
2008-09-30 |
US08317116B2 |
2012-11-27 |
Terry Dirk; Paul Frederick MacDougall |
A method and process line apparatus for processing a sized ore feed excavated from an ore deposit is disclosed. The method involves disposing a processing apparatus in a processing apparatus position relative to the ore deposit, and disposing a first mobile conveyor to receive a sized ore feed at a receiving location located along a length of the first mobile conveyor. The first mobile conveyor is operable to convey the sized ore from the receiving location to a discharge end of the first mobile conveyor. The method also involves disposing a second mobile conveyor to receive the sized ore from the discharge end of the first mobile conveyor at a transfer location along a length of the second mobile conveyor and to convey the sized ore from the transfer location to the processing apparatus. The first and second mobile conveyors are oriented at an operational angle between a length of the first mobile conveyor and a length of the second mobile conveyor. The method further involves moving at least one of the first and second mobile conveyors to vary at least one of the operational angle and the transfer location to permit successive portions of the ore deposit within operational reach of the receiving location to be received for conveying along the first and second mobile conveyors to the processing apparatus while the processing apparatus is located in the processing apparatus position. |
153 |
Apparatus and methods for remediating drill cuttings and other particulate materials |
US12052634 |
2008-03-20 |
US08287441B2 |
2012-10-16 |
Rod Wick |
Apparatus for separating liquids, such as oils from solids, such as drill cuttings, comprises a decanter-type centrifuge. In example implementations the centrifuge has a bowl angle of four degrees or less and a low fluid depth of two inches or less. A material conveyor such as an auger is provided to carry material having a relatively high initial solids content, such as 50% or more into the centrifuge. The apparatus may comprise heaters to heat the material. In example implementations the decanter-type centrifuge processes solids from a main centrifuge and/or a shale shaker. |
154 |
System, apparatus and process for extraction of bitumen from oil sands |
US11938226 |
2007-11-09 |
US08225944B2 |
2012-07-24 |
Bradford E. Bjornson; Craig Aaron Strand; William Nicholas Garner; John Khai-Quang Diep; Darwin Edward Kiel; Thomas Charles Hann |
An extraction system and process for extracting bitumen from a slurry containing bitumen, solids and water. The system comprises a cyclone separation facility for separating the slurry into a solids component stream and a bitumen froth stream with the bitumen froth stream including water and fine solids. The bitumen froth stream is then delivered to a froth concentration facility for separating the bitumen froth stream into a final bitumen enriched froth stream, and a water and fine solids stream. The final bitumen enriched froth stream is suitable for further processing. The system of the present invention is preferably mobile so that the cyclone extraction facility and the froth concentration facility can move with the mine face at an oil sands mining site, however, it is also contemplated that the system can be retrofitted to existing fixed treatment facilities to improve the operational efficiency of such fixed facilities. |
155 |
SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR EXTRACTION OF BITUMEN FROM OIL SANDS |
US13329177 |
2011-12-16 |
US20120085699A1 |
2012-04-12 |
Bradford E. Bjornson; Craig Aaron Strand; William Nicholas Garner; John Khai-Quang Diep; Darwin Edward Kiel; Thomas Charles Hann |
An extraction system and process for extracting bitumen from a slurry containing bitumen, solids and water. The system comprises a cyclone separation facility for separating the slurry into a solids component stream and a bitumen froth stream with the bitumen froth stream including water and fine solids. The bitumen froth stream is then delivered to a froth concentration facility for separating the bitumen froth stream into a final bitumen enriched froth stream, and a water and fine solids stream. The final bitumen enriched froth stream is suitable for further processing. The system of the present invention is preferably mobile so that the cyclone extraction facility and the froth concentration facility can move with the mine face at an oil sands mining site, however, it is also contemplated that the system can be retrofitted to existing fixed treatment facilities to improve the operational efficiency of such fixed facilities. |
156 |
Primary froth recycle |
US12163590 |
2008-06-27 |
US08062511B2 |
2011-11-22 |
Jonathan Spence; Teddy Kwong; Kamal Hammad; Samson Ng; Robert Siy; Jason Schaan |
A process for extracting bitumen from oil sand, comprising: mixing oil sand with process water to produce an oil sand slurry containing bitumen, sand, water and entrained air; conditioning the oil sand slurry; optionally flooding the conditioned oil sand slurry with flood water to dilute the slurry, if required; introducing the slurry into a primary separation vessel wherein separate layers of primary bitumen froth, middlings and sand tailings are formed; removing a portion of the primary bitumen froth from the primary separation vessel and recycling the portion of primary bitumen froth to that step of the process upstream of the primary separation vessel to join and mix with the feed stream moving to the primary separation vessel; and thereafter retaining said feed stream in said primary separation vessel to produce primary bitumen froth. |
157 |
Enhanced bitumen flotation |
US11673479 |
2007-02-09 |
US07727385B2 |
2010-06-01 |
Robert Siy; Jonathan Spence; Owen Neiman |
A method and apparatus for recovering bitumen as froth from a feed stream having solids, water and bitumen is provided using a separating vessel having mounted thereon a downpipe assembly, the downpipe assembly having at least one downpipe and a nozzle in fluid communication with each downpipe, for aerating a stream of middlings withdrawn from the separating vessel and reintroducing the aerated middlings back to the separating vessel. |
158 |
BITUMEN FROTH TREATING PROCESS |
US12250102 |
2008-10-13 |
US20100089800A1 |
2010-04-15 |
Darren R. MACDONALD; Carlos J. VALDES |
A process for treating a bitumen froth containing bitumen, solid mineral material and water, including subjecting a first mixture containing the bitumen froth and a first amount of a paraffinic solvent to first gravity separation, thereby producing a first overflow stream and a first underflow stream, wherein the first gravity separation is performed so that the first underflow stream contains between about 5 percent and about 40 percent by weight of the asphaltenes contained in the first mixture. A second mixture containing the first underflow stream and a second amount of the paraffinic solvent is subjected to second gravity separation in order to recover bitumen from the first underflow stream. |
159 |
Sizing roller screen ore processing apparatus |
US11187977 |
2005-07-25 |
US07677397B2 |
2010-03-16 |
Brad Bjornson; Doug Cox; Paul MacDougall; Garth Booker |
Discloses a mined ore processing apparatus to process mined ores, such as oil sands ore, into granular material. An ore processor bed receives the ore to be processed. The ore processor bed has a frame supporting several rotating elements each separately driven to provide independent rotation rate and direction from the other. The ore processing bed is operable as a sizing device to decimate mined ore supply into granular material and separating it from rocks and other large lump mineral materials found in situ. The ore processing bed may be oriented to provide an upward inclination, which, when combined with alternating rotating element rotation directions, provides a crushing action to the ore material to crush larger rock. Alternately, a rock crusher is also provided to disintegrate oversized materials. |
160 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CREATE AN OIL SAND SLURRY |
US12143315 |
2008-06-20 |
US20100044276A1 |
2010-02-25 |
Anita MARKS; Grant WEATHERBEE; Heather KENNEDY; Chris WALMSLEY |
An improved method and apparatus for preparing and oil sand slurry. Mined oil sand ore is deposited into a rotatable breaker tube. As the rotary breaker rotates, the ore is advanced and broken. Process fluid may be differentially distributed throughout the length of the rotary breaker, forming an oil sand slurry and assisting in the comminution and ablation of the ore. The comminuted oil sand and process fluid passes through perforations in the interior surface of the rotary breaker, and are collected in a hopper below, while oversized ore lumps are ejected out of the discharge end of the rotary breaker. The rotatable breaker tube is resistant to backflow at higher infeed rates. |