Abstract: The process comprises excavating pits at the first and second ends of a buried section of old water main pipe that is to be replaced with new pipe. The exposed segments of pipe are broken up to provide access to the bore of the old pipe. A pipe splitter and a cylinder-actuated pulling unit are installed in the first pit. A string of rods is extended through the old pipe bore from the first pit to the second pit. A tool assembly of sequentially connected components is attached to the second end of the rod string. The tool assembly may comprise: means for centralizing the second end of the rod string in the second end of the old pipe section; a pull plate for bearing against the annular second end face of the old pipe section; a cylindrical plug for expanding the passageway extending between the pits; a rod member for extending through the bore of the new pipe section to be installed; and a second pull plate for bearing against the annular second end face of the new pipe.

Abstract: The pump jack is of conventional API front-mounted geometry Class III configuration, but is provided with an angularly disposed walking beam, so as to be able to pump a slant rod string. To incorporate versatility into the unit so that a single model can be used with different wells having different angularities, there is provided: means for altering the effective length of the Pitman arms (so that the angularity of the walking beam is changed, which permits the unit to be used with a rod string having a different slant); means for bringing the counterweight into phase with the well load; and means for altering the stroke length.

Abstract: An improvement in the processing of bituminous sands is described, whereby the concentration of bitumen in tar sand feed is measured by infrared light reflected from the tar sand surface. Near infrared is shone onto the surface of the incoming tar sand and reflected light is collected and passed through two parallel filters, one being a measuring filter having a wavelength range of 2180 to 2260 nm and the other being a reference filter having a wavelength range of 2270 to 2350 nm. The beams emerging from the filters are measured electronically and the resulting signals are separately integrated and amplified by electronic means. The ratio of the amplified signals is used to provide a read-out signal responsive to the bitumen concentration. The results may be used to adjust processing conditions in the extraction process to allow for the variations of bitumen in the feed.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing biofilm from a surface submerged in water. The method includes cooling the biofilm to below the freezing point of water to thereby generate large, sharp-edged ice crystals in the biofilm. The frozen biofilm is then thawed and removed from the surface by, for instance, flowing a liquid across the surface.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing contaminants from waste lubricating oil. The waste oil is contacted with one or more of the pretreatment chemicals ammonium sulphate, ammonium bisulphate, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, diammonium phosphate, calcium hydrogen phosphate, phosphoric acid, calcium sulphate, aluminum sulphate, and magnesium sulphate. The contacting step is performed at a temperature of at least about 650.degree. F. The oil mixture is then filtered to remove the contaminants. The pretreatment chemical is preferably added in the absence of water, thereby reducing the amount of water to be removed from the oil.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flowmeter for measuring pressure drops indicative of the flowrates of the individual phases in a gas and liquid containing two-phase stream. Elements are provided for creating and measuring a frictional pressure drop in the two-phase flow. Elements are also provided for creating and measuring an acceleration pressure drop in the two-phase flow. Mathematical models are known in two-phase theory for correlating these pressure drop measurements with the flowrates of the individual phases. In a preferred mode of the invention the frictional pressure drop is measured across a twisted tape; the accelerational pressure drop is measured across a venturi downstream of the twisted tape, and the pressure drops are measured by pressure transducers. The meter also preferably measures the static pressure of the two-phase flow.

Abstract: A dry thermal processor is provided for recovering hydrocarbons from oil sand solids. The processor comprises concentric, radially spaced, horizontal inner and outer tubular members connected for rotation together. The inner member provides a substantially open preheat zone and vaporization zone while the outer member provides, in the annular space between the tubular members, a substantially open combustion zone and heat transfer zone. The ends of the outer member are sealed by stationary feed end and product end structures. Advance means move the oil sand solids from the feed end structure through the preheat and vaporization zones to the product end structure and back through the combustion and heat transfer zones. In the preheat zone the oil sands are progressively heated and dehydrated by heat transferred through walls of the inner member from hot solids being dropped thereon in the heat transfer zone.

Abstract: The hot water extraction process for recovering bitumen from tar sand produces a large volume of solids-laden aqueous tailings as a waste product. The solids in the tailings stream may be flocculated by the addition of time and the components of the stream then separated into a water-free solids phase and a clarified water phase. During flocculation, the zeta potential of the stream is monitored. It rises from an initial negative zeta potential, as the lime is added. Flocculation is terminated when the zeta potential is about zero. At this point, the tailings are in optimum condition for separation into the water-free solids phase and the clarified water phase. Separation is preferably effected by vacuum filtration.

Abstract: A solar heated anaerobic digestor is provided, adapted to utilize organic material capable of decomposing to produce methane gas and a liquid fertilizer. The sealed anaerobic digestor is wrapped with a layer of heat absorptive material followed by a series of abutting removable panels of insulative material. Insulative panels may be temporarily removed to expose the heat absorptive material to solar radiation and may be replaced when the solar radiation diminishes. A layer of transparent material wrapped in outwardly spaced relation around the insulatng panels is capable of transmitting solar radiation while providing protection against environmental elements. Additional heating means extending into the digestor provide auxiliary heat as required.

Abstract: An oily mass of solids tailings is derived from flotation of bitumen during hot water extraction of bituminous sands, and subsequent separation of most of the bitumen from associated solids. This oily mass contains a high concentration of heavy minerals, in the order of 10% by weight titanium and 4% zirconium. The tailings are introduced into a hot reaction zone and contacted with oxygen while agitating the solids. The bitumen associated with the solids is burned, as is residual coke left from the combustion of the bitumen. The product particles are discrete, dry and clean. They can be slurried with water and passed through gravity concentrating means, such as a spiral, to produce a concentrate containing in the order of 18% titanium and 8% zirconium.

Abstract: In the hot water process wherein tar sand is slurried in a tumbler with hot water and sodium hydroxide, oversized material, rejected from the tumbler, is mixed with a portion of slurry flood water in a second slurrying device and subjected therein to heating and dispersal of bitumen associated with the rejects. A bitumen-containing slurry is produced from the second device and this slurry is combined with the tumbler slurry and subsequently subjected to flotation to recover bitumen.

Abstract: A hunting blind which resembles a stack of straw bales, houses and camouflages a hunter. The pyramid-like structure is built of box-like elements which are disengagably connected to form three tiers. Some of the walls of the box-like elements have been partially or totally cut away to form sufficient space within the structure for the hunter. The tiers are hingably connected to each other such that the box-like elements can be swung outwardly to allow the hunter an unobstructed hunting positon. Storage and transportation is simplified by forming box-like elements of such dimensions that they may be nested to form a single, compact unit.

Abstract: Bitumen froth streamsfrom the primary separation vessel and secondary flotation cells are gravity transferred into one or more columns and heated and deaerated therein by passing them countercurrent to steam. The heated deaerated froth is then pumped with centrifugal pump means to the froth treatment circuit. By deaerating and heating before pumping, the froth is converted from a form difficult to pump to one which is relatively easy to pump.

Abstract: It has been found that controlling the rate of withdrawal of tailings from a hot water process primary separation vessel with a rake torque sensor is attended by problems when the feed to the vessel is high in fine solids content. It was also found that a nuclear density gauge was much better at controlling the withdrawal with the high fines feed, but did not work as well as rake torque control with low fines feed. Therefore the withdrawal is now controlled with a rake torque sensor when the vessel is receiving low fines feed and a density gauge when it is receiving high fines feed.

Abstract: For operating control and safety, a variable-speed close-coupled pump is direct connected to the underflow of the primary separation vessel (PSV). The desired discharge density of the PSV is 70- 80% solids in order to minimize bitumen losses. For a good pumping system, the pump discharge density should be less than 65% solids to avoid settling out of the solids in the downstream conduit. Therefore it is necessary to dilute the PSV underflow before it reaches the pump. Secondary flotation tailings, a dilute stream containing a high proportion of fine solids, is used for this purpose. The solids content of the PSV underflow is monitored by one of two alternative systems-- a torque recorder on the PSV rake shaft or a density gauge on the PSV underflow conduit. The former is used when the PSV is being fed low fines tar sand-- the latter when it is treating high fines tar sand. The close-coupled pump speed is adjusted relative to the solids content measurement to keep it at the desired 70- 80% level.

Abstract: The burner comprises inner and outer tubular concentrically arranged conduits having their outlets positioned approximately in the same plane. The inner conduit is connected to a high pressure gas source; the outer conduit is connected to a low pressure gas source. The end face of the inner conduit forms a valve seat in which a Coanda-type valve body seats. The valve body is axially displaceable away from the valve seat so as to co-operate therewith to form an annular passage. A tubular shroud concentrically surrounds the conduit outlets and valve body in spaced relation therewith. In operation, high pressure gas unseats the valve body and flows at high velocity through the annular passage.

Abstract: Coked solids, produced by coking of tar sands, are contacted in a first zone with air and the minimum amount of supplemental fuel needed to burn all the coke. Part of the hot clean mineral solids produced is then discarded; the balance is moved into a second zone. Here supplemental fuel is burned to increase the temperature of the solids. The hot solids from the second zone are recycled to the coking stage.Only part of the solids is heated with supplemental fuel, thereby reducing consumption of the latter. In addition, the flue gas from the second zone is relatively clean and can be vented directly to the atmosphere in the flue gas from the first zone.

Abstract: The inlet assembly is mounted within a separator vessel and comprises a housing similar in shape to that of a snail shell. This housing has a generally spiral side wall closed in by top and bottom end walls. A feed pipe delivers pressurized crude oil tangentially to the inner end of the spiral side wall so that it rotates outwardly, following the length of said wall, to an outlet communicating with the interior of the separator vessel. Gas is separated by centrifugation in the smaller radius central portion of the housing and then the liquid flow velocity is reduced by expansion of the stream in the larger radius outer portion. Improvements in gas separation and emulsion reduction have been observed from use of the assembly.

Abstract: The starch in barley or a like grain is hydrolyzed with the enzyme glucoamylase to produce glucose. The glucose is then reacted with urea under drying conditions to produce a high assay mixture of ureides, mainly monoglucosyl ureide. The end product is found to be a useful non-protein nitrogen feed supplement for cattle.

Abstract: The burner comprises a tubular flow conduit which is attached to the end of a flare line so that combustible gas passes therethrough. The end face of the conduit forms an annular valve seat. A tulip-shaped valve body seats in the valve seat and can be displaced axially by the gas to open the conduit outlet as required while maintaining a back pressure in the flare line. Minute passages, such as transverse notches extending across the valve seat, are provided to permit gas, flowing at a low rate, to escape from the flow conduit when the valve body is seated. The rounded shape of the valve body induces the gas to form an attached jet which clings to the valve body surface and creates a low pressure zone at said surface. Air is therefore drawn toward the surface to mix with the gas and form a mixture adapted to burn smokelessly. The burner is able to accomodate various rates of flow while maintaining a stable flame.