Patents Assigned to Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc.
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Publication number: 20080017416Abstract: The present invention discloses a selection process for installing underground workspace in or near a hydrocarbon deposit that is an appropriate workspace from which to drill, operate and service wells applicable to any of a number of methods of recovering hydrocarbons. The present invention includes a number of innovative methods for developing workspace for drilling from a shaft installed above, into or below a hydrocarbon deposit, particularly when the hydrocarbon reservoir is at significant formation pressure or has fluids (water oil or gases) that can enter the workspace. These methods can also be used for developing workspace for drilling from a tunnel installed above, into or below a hydrocarbon deposit. The present invention also discloses a procedure for evaluating the geology in and around the reservoir and using this information to select the most appropriate method of developing workspace for drilling from a shaft and/or tunnel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Applicant: OIL SANDS UNDERGROUND MINING, INC.Inventors: John Watson, Michael Kobler, Dana Brock
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Publication number: 20070044957Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for installing, operating and servicing wells in a hydrocarbon deposit from a lined shaft and/or tunnel system that is installed above, into or under a hydrocarbon deposit. The entire process of installing the shafts and tunnels as well as drilling and operating the wells is carried out while maintaining isolation between the work space and the ground formation. In one aspect of the invention, well-head devices may be precast into the tunnel or shaft lining to facilitate well installation and operation in the presence of formation pressure and/or potential fluid in-flows. In another aspect of the invention, the tunnel itself can be used as a large diameter well for collecting hydrocarbons and, if required, for injecting steam or diluents into a formation to mobilize heavy hydrocarbons such as heavy crude and bitumen.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2006Publication date: March 1, 2007Applicant: Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc.Inventors: John Watson, Michael Kobler, Dana Brock
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Publication number: 20050218711Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to the combined use of slurry mining and hydrocyclones to recover hydrocarbons, such as bitumen, from hydrocarbon-containing materials, such as oil sands, and to selective mining of valuable materials, particularly hydrocarbon-containing materials, using a plurality of excavating devices and corresponding inputs for the excavated material. The excavated material captured by each input can be switched back-and-forth between two or more destinations depending on the value of the stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2005Publication date: October 6, 2005Applicant: Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc.Inventor: John Watson
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Patent number: 6929330Abstract: The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2002Date of Patent: August 16, 2005Assignee: Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson
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Patent number: 6869147Abstract: The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2003Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson
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Publication number: 20040070257Abstract: The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Applicant: Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson
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Publication number: 20040016377Abstract: The present invention is directed to additives for coal-fired furnaces, particularly furnaces using a layer of slag to capture coal particles for combustion. The additive(s) include iron, mineralizer(s), handling aid(s), flow aid(s), and/or abrasive material(s). The iron and mineralizers can lower the melting temperature of ash in low-iron, high alkali coals, leading to improved furnace performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2003Publication date: January 29, 2004Applicant: Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Allen Johnson, John Wurster, John Philip Comer
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Patent number: 6554368Abstract: The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2001Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson
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Publication number: 20030038526Abstract: The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2002Publication date: February 27, 2003Applicant: Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson