Patents by Inventor SHAWN VAN DER MERWE

SHAWN VAN DER MERWE has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20130313886
    Abstract: A process for regionalization of mining bitumen-containing oil sands ore for extraction and conversion to produce dry bitumen comprises operating multiple separate oil sands ore mining and extraction facilities or in situ thermal recovery facilities, to produce separate bitumen froth streams; operating a regional paraffinic froth treatment (PFT) hub for receiving a portion of each of the separate bitumen froth streams and treating the bitumen froth streams to produce the dry bitumen; optionally providing a portion of the dry bitumen stream to the bitumen upgrading facility and another portion of the dry bitumen stream to a bitumen market pipeline or remote upgrading facility; and optionally comprising regionalization of water distribution where by-product waters are recovered from the PFT hub and the upgrading facilities and distributed to the mining and extraction facilities for use as extraction processing water to produce the bitumen froth streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Fort Hills Energy L.P.
    Inventors: Shawn Van Der Merwe, Tom Hann
  • Publication number: 20120145653
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating a feed such as bitumen froth feed are provided. The apparatus comprises a vessel having a top, side walls, and a base. An inlet delivers feed to the vessel interior whereby settling of the feed establishes a heavier phase zone in the vicinity of the base and a lighter phase zone above an interface with the heavier phase zone. The height/diameter ratio of the vessel, the dimensions and position of the inlet and the fluid properties of the feed are selected to allow a feed velocity of the feed discharging from the inlet into the interior to dissipate in the lighter phase zone as the discharged feed entrains lighter phases above the interface and spreads across the vessel interior such that the lighter phases of the feed separate up to an overflow outlet and the heavier phases separate down to an underflow outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: FORT HILLS ENERGY L.P.
    Inventors: SHAWN VAN DER MERWE, JOHN KHAI-QUANG DIEP, MOHAMMED REZA SHARIATI, GARY FOULDS
  • Publication number: 20120061334
    Abstract: A method for controlling fouling of a settler vessel overflow system comprises maintaining at least a minimum stream flow in the overflow system by recirculating a portion of the overflow stream. A system for performing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: FORT HILLS ENERGY INC.
    Inventors: SHAWN VAN DER MERWE, THOMAS C. HANN