Abstract: Embodiments relate to a continuous process for treating tailings that includes providing tailings for treatment having at least 10 wt % solids, providing a mixing apparatus having a first inlet for feeding the tailings, a second inlet for feeding a non-dispersion liquid flocculant that includes a polyethylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight from 100 g/mol to 2,000 g/mol, and an outlet for a mixture of the tailings and the non-dispersion liquid flocculant, continuously introducing into the mixing apparatus the tailings through the first inlet and the non-dispersion liquid flocculant through the second inlet, and allowing the tailings and the non-dispersion liquid flocculant to mix to from the mixture of the tailings and the non-dispersion liquid flocculant.

Abstract: Embodiments relate continuous process for treating tailings that includes providing tailings for treatment having at least 20 wt % solids, providing a mixing apparatus having a first inlet for feeding the tailings, a second inlet for feeding flocculants, an outlet for a mixture of the tailings and flocculants, and a rotating disk, the first inlet being separate from the second inlet, the second inlet being above the rotating disk, and the rotating disk having a tip speed at least 2 m/s, continuously introducing into the mixing apparatus the tailings through the first inlet and the flocculants through the second inlet, allowing the tailings and the flocculants to mix on the rotating disk to form the mixture of the tailings and flocculants, continuously removing the mixture of the tailings and flocculants through the outlet to form a treated mixture, and flowing the treated mixture from the mixing apparatus for further treatment or to a disposal area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in-line blending apparatus and use therein for flocculating and dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension. Said method comprises blending an aqueous mineral suspension and a poly(ethylene oxide) (co)polymer using a progressive cavity pump. Said method is particularly useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries, especially for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the clay content of an oil sands tailings stream. The method comprises treating an oil sands tailings stream with a PEO flocculant, passing the mixture through a dynamic mixer comprising a mixer shaft and a power drive for rotating said shaft, wherein the power input needed to maintain a mixer rotational speed (RPM) is measured. For an oil sands tailings stream having a specified solids content, the power measurement and PEO dosage level is correlated to a clay content characterization index, for example methylene blue index (MBI), to determine in real-time the clay content during the processing of an oil sands tailings stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension comprising introducing into the suspension a flocculating system comprising a poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer, in particular a copolymer of ethylene oxide and one or more epoxy or glycidyl ether functionalized hydrophobic monomer. Said poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers are useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries. The invention is particularly suitable for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension comprising introducing into the suspension a flocculating system comprising a mixture of polyethylene oxide polymers, in particular a mixture of one or more high molecular weight polyethylene oxide polymer and one or more ultra high molecular weight polyethylene oxide polymer. Said mixture of polyethylene oxide polymers is useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries. The invention is particularly suitable for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transporting, flocculating, and dewatering an aqueous tailings stream. Said method comprises adding a flocculant composition comprising a poly(ethylene oxide) (co)polymer with the aqueous tailings stream wherein the aqueous tailings stream has 15 wt % or less solids. Said method is particularly useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries, especially for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension comprising introducing into the suspension a flocculating system comprising a mixture of polyethylene glycol and polyethylene oxide polymers, in particular a mixture of one or more low molecular mass polyethylene glycol with one or more high molecular mass polyethylene oxide. Said mixture of polyethylene glycol and polyethylene oxide polymers is useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries. The invention is particularly suitable for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in-line mixing apparatus and use therein for adding a polymer solution and dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension. Said method comprises statically mixing the aqueous mineral suspension with a poly(ethylene oxide) (co)polymer to form a dough-like material. The viscous mixture material is then dynamically mixed in an in-line reactor to reduce the mixture viscosity and to form microflocs and release water. Said method is particularly useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries, especially for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for flocculating and dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension. Said process comprises mixing a powdered poly(ethylene oxide) (co)polymer with the aqueous mineral suspension. Said method is particularly useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries, especially for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for mixing a flocculant composition with mineral suspensions, especially waste mineral slurries, using an acoustic mixer. Preferably the flocculant composition is a polymeric flocculant composition preferably comprising a poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer or copolymer. The process of the present invention is particularly suitable for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, processing of oil sands tailings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension comprising introducing into the suspension a flocculating system comprising a poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer, in particular a copolymer of ethylene oxide and one or more silane- or siloxane-functionalized glycidyl ether monomer. Said poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers are useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries. The invention is particularly suitable for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension comprising introducing into the suspension a flocculating system comprising a mixture of polyethylene oxide polymers, in particular a mixture of one or more high molecular weight polyethylene oxide polymer and one or more ultra high molecular weight polyethylene oxide polymer. Said mixture of polyethylene oxide polymers is useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries. The invention is particularly suitable for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension comprising introducing into the suspension a flocculating system comprising a mixture of polyethylene glycol and polyethylene oxide polymers, in particular a mixture of one or more low molecular mass polyethylene glycol with one or more high molecular mass polyethylene oxide. Said mixture of polyethylene glycol and polyethylene oxide polymers is useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries. The invention is particularly suitable for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of separating an oil-in-water emulsion formed during crude oil production into a water phase and an oil phase that includes adding 1 part-per-million (ppm) to 10000 ppm of a cationic vinyl imidazolium-based copolymer to the oil-in-water emulsion, based on the total volume of the oil-in-water emulsion, to form a water phase and an oil phase, and separating the water phase from the oil phase.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of separating an oil-in-water emulsion formed during crude oil production into a water phase and an oil phase that includes adding 1 part-per-million (ppm) to 10000 ppm of an N-vinylpyrrolidone based cationic copolymer to the oil-in-water emulsion, based on the total volume of the oil-in-water emulsion, to form a water phase and an oil phase, and separating the water phase from the oil phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for flocculating and dewatering oil sands fine tailings. Said method comprises mixing the aqueous mineral suspension with a poly(ethylene oxide) (co)polymer to form a dough-like material. The material is then dynamically mixed in an in-line reactor to break down the dough-like material to form microflocs having an average size of 1 to 500 microns, and to release water. The internal diameter of the in-line reactor is at most five times the internal diameter of the inlet pipe of the reactor. The suspension of microflocs has a viscosity of at most 1000 cP and a yield stress of at most 300 Pa.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in-line mixing apparatus and use therein for adding a polymer solution and dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension. Said method comprises statically mixing the aqueous mineral suspension with a poly(ethylene oxide) (co) polymer to form a dough-like material. The viscous mixture material is then dynamically mixed in an in-line reactor 40 to reduce the mixture viscosity and to form microflocs and release water. Said method is particularly useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries, especially for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for reducing or preventing the loss of drilling fluids and other well servicing fluids into a subterranean formation during drilling or construction of boreholes in said formation. Specifically, this invention comprises a curable thermosetting composition comprising a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate, a polyfunctional (meth)acrylamide, or mixture thereof, one or more epoxy resin, and one or more (cyclo)aliphatic polyamine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for reducing or preventing the loss of drilling fluids and other well servicing fluids into a subterranean formation during drilling or construction of boreholes in said formation. Specifically, this invention comprises a curable composition capable of free radical polymerization for creating lost circulation material in-situ.