Abstract: A method and system for the use of low quality fuel and solids-rich water, like fine tailings or lime sludge, for extracting bitumen from shallow and deep underground oil sand formations. The method includes the steps of combustion fuel and oxidizing gas, mixing hot combustion gas with solids-rich water, evaporating the liquid water to steam and solids, removing the solids from the gas phase to generate a solid lean gas, recovering the heat and condensing the steam to generate hot water, mixing the hot water with oilsands ore for extracting bitumen. The solid lean gas is mixed with saturated water to scrub the remaining solids and acid gases and produce saturated steam. The solids-rich saturated water is recycled and evaporated by being mixed with the combustion gases, and the saturated steam is condensed to generate heat and condensate for steam generation for use in enhanced oil recovery.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for generating a mixture of steam and combustion gas in a direct contact rotating steam generator, using high solids content water and without waste liquid discharge. The invention includes a longitudinally pressurized rotatable drum, being mounted at a slope and having an energy injection section, a steam producing section, a water injection section and a discharge section. The discharge section is placed at an opposite end of the steam producing section and opposite the water injection section. There is an inlet in the combustion section of the rotatable drum, an outlet at an end of the rotatable drum, an injector for water at the highest point of the rotatable drum. There is also a discharge located at an end opposite said end of the rotatable drum. There are also pluralities of chains hanging within the rotatable drum.

Abstract: A direct contact rotating steam generator apparatus has an enclosure with an interior volume with a steam producing section. The enclosure has a water injection inlet and a steam outlet and a waste discharge outlet. The enclosure is mounted in an orientation in which the longitudinal axis is slightly inclined to horizontal. The water injection inlet is positioned at one end of the enclosure. The waste discharge outlet is positioned at an opposite end to enclosure. The interior volume has a controllable pressure therein. The enclosure is rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for producing a steam and CO2 mixture, as a super heated dry steam mixture. The apparatus includes a rotatable vessel having a combustion section and a steam producing section. There may also be a dry solid removal, a steam production and solid scrubbing vertical vessel, and a heat exchanger. The vessel is partially filled with spherical bodies, and the sections are partially separated by a partition. A discharge section is located at an end of the steam producing section. A homogenizing section has at least one partition wall guiding flow of gases. The process for producing the steam mixture includes mixing a low quality fuel with an oxidation gas, combusting in a rotating drum filled with spherical bodies, and mixing low quality water with a controlled temperature to generate steam. All liquids convert to gas so that there is no liquid discharge.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for producing a steam and CO2 mixture, as a super heated dry steam mixture. The apparatus includes a rotatable vessel having a combustion section and a steam producing section. There may also be a dry solid removal, a steam production and solid scrubbing vertical vessel, and a heat exchanger. The vessel is partially filled with spherical bodies, and the sections are partially separated by a partition. A discharge section is located at an end of the steam producing section. A homogenizing section has at least one partition wall guiding flow of gases. The process for producing the steam mixture includes mixing a low quality fuel with an oxidation gas, combusting in a rotating drum filled with spherical bodies, and mixing low quality water with a controlled temperature to generate steam. All liquids convert to gas so that there is no liquid discharge.

Abstract: A method and system for producing steam for extraction of heavy bitumen including the steps of mixing carbon or hydrocarbon fuel. The fuel is crude oil, vacuum residue, asphaltin, petcoke or coal. The oxidation gas includes oxygen, oxygen enriched air or air-combustion of the mixture under high pressure and high temperature. The fuel is mixed with low quality contaminated water containing organics and inorganics. The liquid phase transferred to a gas phase includes steam and carbon dioxide, wherein solids are separated from the gas phase. The gas phase is mixed with saturated water to scrub the remaining solids and produce saturated steam. The solid rich water is recycled back for combustion. The saturated steam super-heated dry steam and gas mixture is send to an enhanced oil recovery facility for injection into an underground reservoir.