Abstract: In order to collect, heat and deaerate raw bituminous froth prior to upgrading that froth to synthetic crude oil, a central collection zone is provided for collecting the raw froth which is transferred therefrom to a deaeration zone by means of a conduit having a plurality of steam injection means disposed therein and oriented to urge the froth toward the deaeration zone. The deaeration zone may include a plurality of baffles across which the heated froth is distributed in order to facilitate the release of gases as the froth spills over the baffles. An outlet in a lower portion of the deaeration zone permits transfer by pumping or other means for further treatment of the froth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel consumable guide nozzle suitable for use in the electroslag welding.

Abstract: A process for treating retention pond sludge containing greater than 20% solids including minerals and bitumen and associated with the aqueous extraction of bitumen from tar sands to provide water substantially reduced in solids content which comprises agitating the sludge with water to provide a diluted sludge with a solids concentration in the range of 6 to 18% by weight, and thereafter settling the sludge to form a lower layer having a solids content substantially higher than that of the sludge an upper layer of bituminous froth, and a middle layer of water having a substantially lower solids content than said undiluted sludge and recovering said upper layer.

Abstract: In a hot water process for extracting bitumen from tar sands comprising forming a mixture of tar sands and water, settling the mixture in a primary extraction zone to form an upper bitumen froth layer, a middlings layer and a sand tailings layer, passing a part of the middlings layer to an air scavenger zone to recover additional bitumen therefrom, the improvement which comprises adding the aerated bitumen-depleted aerated middlings material from the air scavenger zone to the mixture of tar sands and water before the settling step.

Abstract: A method for reducing the sludge content of a retention pond associated with the hot water process for extracting bitumen from tar sands which comprises admixing a sludge stream containing at least 12% solids by weight with a hot water extraction process waste water stream containing at least 20% sand; settling the mixture in a settling zone to form an upper layer substantially reduced in mineral matter and a lower layer comprised of a sand-sludge mixture and dispersing said lower layer over a sand pile zone to provide additional sand layers thereon containing at least a part of the sludge in the interstices of said additional sand layers.

Abstract: An apparatus in which bituminous froth is concurrently heated and deaerated while flowing by gravity from one zone to another.

Abstract: A method for removing bitumen from mineral particles recovered from bituminous froth recovered as a product of aqueous extraction of tar sands which method comprises scrubbing the minerals with a liquid hydrocarbon solvent containing at least 10 weight percent aromatics and thereafter separating the minerals from the solvent and subsequently drying the minerals.

Abstract: A tank with an upwardly concave bottom, a rotatable center shaft running on the vertical axis of the tank from the top of the tank to the bottom, middlings outlets at the side of the tank, a sands discharge outlet at the bottom of the tank, an overflow means connected at the side of the tank, a sand rake connected to the center shaft to rotate with the shaft and positioned to move settled sand toward the sand discharge outlet and a means for rotating the center shaft, the improvement which comprises a combination of two or more saucer-shaped deflecting baffles located in the cell and concentric with the shaft and affixed thereto, the lowest baffle being located immediately above the sand rake, and inverted to the bottom of the cell and having a skirt extending downward from the outer periphery thereof and at least one other deflecting baffle being located in between the feed well and the lower baffle.

Abstract: In a hot water process for extracting bitumen from tar sands comprising forming a mixture of tar sands and water, settling the mixture in a primary extraction zone to form an upper bitumen froth layer, a middlings layer, and a sand tailings layer, passing a part of the middlings layer to an air scavenger zone to recover additional bitumen therefrom, the improvement which comprises aerating the mixture of tar sands and water before separating bitumen froth from the mixture in a gravity settling zone. This aeration can be accomplished by adding an aerated recycle middlings stream to the tar sands water-mixture prior to the settling step.

Abstract: A method for reducing the sludge layer in an effluent retention pond associated with hot water extraction of bitumen from tar sands comprising recycling sludge from the retention pond to aid in removing the aqueous effluent discharge from the extraction process and thereby effect a reduction of the volume of the sludge layer in the pond.

Abstract: A method for improving recovery in a hot water process for extracting bitumen from tar sands comprising adding bitumen-depleted middlings recovered from a scavenger zone to the sand layer in a primary extraction vessel at a point below the surface of the sand.

Abstract: An environmentally attractive method for storing sludge containing water, mineral matter, bitumen, and liquid hydrocarbon formed in a retention pond used to store effluent discharge waste streams associated with aqueous extraction of bitumen from tar sands comprising inserting the sludge below the surface of an unpolluted pond.

Abstract: In the delayed coking process wherein hot coke is formed by destructive distillation of a petroleum feed in a coking drum to provide solid coke and distillate petroleum products, the method of regulating the rate of quenching the hot coke after the drum is full and coking has ceased which comprises regulating the rate of feeding quench water to the coking drum in accordance with the internal pressure measured within the drum.

Abstract: The specification discloses an apparatus for recovering bitumen from large water surfaces. The apparatus comprises a crowned continuous conveyor belt with screen-bottomed scoops spaced along the outer surface of the belt.

Abstract: A method for reducing the sludge layer in an aqueous effluent retention pond associated with hot water extraction of bitumen from tar sands comprising dispersing the aqueous effluent discharge from the extraction process containing bitumen, sand, water, silt and clay over the surface of the pond thereby effecting a reduction in the volume of the sludge layer in the pond.