Abstract: A method for quantifying bitumen and/or water in a sample comprising bitumen, water and solids using a time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance pulse spectrometer is provided comprising the steps of: initially saturating the magnetization of the sample so that essentially no magnetization remains in the +Z axis; subjecting the sample to a sequence of radio-frequency pulses optimized for the measurement of bitumen and water in the sample; allowing the recording of the transverse relaxation (T2) echo trains after incremental longitudinal relaxation to produce a raw TD-NMR data set for the sample; and determining the amount of bitumen and water by means of a partial least squares optimization based chemometric model relating TD-NMR data sets obtained from a training set of samples comprising bitumen, water and solids to the training samples' corresponding reference values obtained from a standard analysis method for determining bitumen and water.

Abstract: A process for extracting bitumen from oil sand, comprising: mixing oil sand with process water to produce an oil sand slurry containing bitumen, sand, water and entrained air; conditioning the oil sand slurry; optionally flooding the conditioned oil sand slurry with flood water to dilute the slurry, if required; introducing the slurry into a primary separation vessel wherein separate layers of primary bitumen froth, middlings and sand tailings are formed; removing a portion of the primary bitumen froth from the primary separation vessel and recycling the portion of primary bitumen froth to that step of the process upstream of the primary separation vessel to join and mix with the feed stream moving to the primary separation vessel; and thereafter retaining said feed stream in said primary separation vessel to produce primary bitumen froth.

Abstract: A process for treating oil sands process water is provided, comprising removing free oil and grease from the oil sands process water to produce de-oiled process water; reducing the total suspended solids by subjecting the de-oiled process water to filtration using a membrane system to produce filtered process water; and removing dissolved ions such as chloride ions and sulfate ions present in the filtered process water by reverse osmosis to produce a treated water stream and a concentrated salt stream.

Abstract: A process for extracting bitumen from problem oil sand ores having low bitumen content and/or high fines content is provided, comprising: mixing the problem oil sand ore with heated water to produce an oil sand slurry; conditioning the oil sand slurry for a period of time sufficient to substantially disperse oil sand lumps and promote the release and coalescence of bitumen flecks from the sand grains; removing a sufficient amount of solids from the conditioned oil sand slurry in a de-sander circuit; and subjecting the solids-reduced oil sand slurry to gravity separation in a bitumen separation vessel to allow the bitumen to float to the top of the vessel to form clean bitumen froth.

Abstract: A method for recovering NH3 present in a sour water stream containing odiferous compounds such as pyridines, indoles, ketones and mercaptans produced during an upgrading process for upgrading bitumen from oil sands into synthetic crude comprising treating the sour water stream in a sour water treatment unit to produce a NH3-rich stream and a H2S-rich stream; and hydrotreating the NH3-rich stream in a hydrotreater in the presence of hydrogen to remove the odiferous compounds such as pyridines, indoles, ketones and mercaptans and produce a treated NH3-rich stream.

Abstract: A feedwell for a gravity separation vessel for introducing a feed stream such as oil sand slurry to the gravity separation vessel is provided comprising a walled member having an upper perimeter edge, a lower perimeter edge and a substantially continuous wall extending from the upper perimeter edge to the lower perimeter edge; an inlet for introducing the feed stream into the walled member positioned adjacent the substantially continuous wall; and a bottom floor having an opening and extending generally beneath the lower perimeter edge; whereby a perimeter of the opening is less than a perimeter of the walled member.

Abstract: A system and method for removing a piece of tramp metal from particulate material transported by a conveyor is provided. A metal detector is used to detect tramp metal in the particulate material traveling along the conveyor. When a piece of tramp metal is detected, a redirection device positioned at the end of the conveyor is used to reject a portion of the particulate material that contains the tramp metal, by temporarily redirecting the flow of particulate material discharging from the conveyor. After the portion of particulate material containing the piece of tramp metal has been redirected by the redirection device, the system resumes normal operation.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for obtaining a sample of a fluid solids, such as a coke and hydrocarbon mixture, from a fluid solids process is provided. A sample vessel is provided that contains a first end, a second end, an aperture in the first end and an interior cavity. A cooling device can be provided for cooling material in the interior cavity of the sampling vessel. In operation, fluid solids can be routed through the aperture and collected in the interior cavity. The collected sample material can then be cooled by the cooling device and used for testing.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump is provided having a volute casing having a discharge conduit, an impeller provided in the volute casing, and a suction sideliner enclosing the impeller in the volute casing, the suction sideliner being at least partially covered with sintered tungsten carbide tiles. In one embodiment, the impellor has a central hub, a plurality of vanes spacedly attached to the hub, and at least one side plate attached to the vanes, whereby each vane is individually wear protected prior to attaching each vane to the hub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering bitumen as froth from a feed stream having solids, water and bitumen is provided using a separating vessel having mounted thereon a downpipe assembly, the downpipe assembly having at least one downpipe and a nozzle in fluid communication with each downpipe, for aerating a stream of middlings withdrawn from the separating vessel and reintroducing the aerated middlings back to the separating vessel.

Abstract: A system for forming an oil sand slurry from mined oil sand is provided, comprising a slurry preparation tower having an intake opening through which oil sand enters the slurry preparation tower, a first sizer device to comminute the oil sand passing through it, a second sizer device to further comminute the oil sand, and a pump box for receiving oil sand that has passed through the second sizer and feeding it to a pump; at least one conveyor, having a discharge end, for transporting mined oil sand to the slurry preparation tower; a metal detector for detecting a piece of metal in the mined oil sand and transmitting a signal; and a metal rejection device operative to, in response to the signal from the metal detector, reject a portion of oil sand containing the piece of metal before the portion of oil sand enters the slurry preparation tower.

Abstract: A system and method for removing a piece of tramp metal from particulate material transported by a conveyor is provided. A metal detector is used to detect tramp metal in the particulate material traveling along the conveyor. When a piece of tramp metal is detected, a redirection device positioned at the end of the conveyor is used to reject a portion of the particulate material that contains the tramp metal, by temporarily redirecting the flow of particulate material discharging from the conveyor. After the portion of particulate material containing the piece of tramp metal has been redirected by the redirection device, the system resumes normal operation.

Abstract: A crusher tooth removal tool is provided having a guide comprising a pair of substantially parallel elongate guide members, said guide having a first end and a second end; a first wedge assembly attached at or near the first end of the guide, said first wedge assembly having a first wedge; a second wedge assembly having a second wedge, said second wedge assembly slideably attached to the guide so that the second wedge and the first wedge are facing each other; a brace fixedly attached at or near the second end of the guide; and a force exerting device connected between the second wedge assembly and the brace such that the force exerting device is operative to force the second wedge assembly along the guide towards the first wedge assembly.

Abstract: A process for removing contaminants, namely water and particulate solids, from hydrocarbon diluent-diluted bitumen froth (“dilfroth”) is provided to produce hydrocarbon diluent-diluted bitumen (“dilbit”), comprising subjecting the dilfroth to gravity settling in a primary settler to produce an overflow stream of primary raw dilbit, comprising bitumen containing water and some fine solids, and an underflow stream of primary tails, comprising solids, water and residual bitumen; removing the overflow stream of primary raw dilbit and subjecting it to gravity settling in a clarifier vessel for sufficient time to produce an overflow first stream of cleaned dilbit and an underflow stream of clarifier sludge; diluting the primary tails with hydrocarbon diluent and subjecting the diluted primary tails to gravity settling in a secondary settler to produce an overflow second stream of cleaned dilbit and an underflow stream of secondary tails; and removing the clarifier sludge and diluting the clarifier sludge with a hyd

Abstract: A process for extracting bitumen from oil sand, comprising: mixing oil sand with process water to produce an oil sand slurry containing bitumen, sand, water and entrained air; conditioning the oil sand slurry; optionally flooding the conditioned oil sand slurry with flood water to dilute the slurry, if required; introducing the slurry into a primary separation vessel wherein separate layers of primary bitumen froth, middlings and sand tailings are formed; removing a portion of the primary bitumen froth from the primary separation vessel and recycling the portion of primary bitumen froth to that step of the process upstream of the primary separation vessel to join and mix with the feed stream moving to the primary separation vessel; and thereafter retaining said feed stream in said primary separation vessel to produce primary bitumen froth.

Abstract: A process for treating water containing dissolved organics, for example, oil sands process-affected water, using petroleum coke is provided, comprising: removing petroleum coke from a coking operation; forming a petroleum coke/water slurry by adding the water to be treated to the petroleum coke; and mixing the slurry for a sufficient time in a carbon adsorption reactor to allow the petroleum coke to adsorb a substantial portion of the dissolved organics from the water.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the flow rate of bitumen froth through a pipeline is provided. A flow meter device is provided including a conduit comprising an approach section having a diameter less than the diameter of the pipeline and a venturi section having in series a converging section, a throat section and, optionally, a diverging section, the converging section of the venturi section being disposed relative to the approach section, and a means for measuring the pressure difference ?P between two points that are separate from one another in the flow direction, one point being on the approach section and the other point being on the throat section. In one embodiment, a heating means for heating the conduit is provided.

Abstract: A method for recovering NH3 present in a sour water stream containing odiferous compounds such as pyridines, indoles, ketones and mercaptans produced during an upgrading process for upgrading bitumen from oil sands into synthetic crude comprising treating the sour water stream in a sour water treatment unit to produce a NH3-rich stream and a H2S-rich stream; and hydrotreating the NH3-rich stream in a hydrotreater in the presence of hydrogen to remove the odiferous compounds such as pyridines, indoles, ketones and mercaptans and produce a treated NH3-rich stream.

Abstract: A process for treating water containing dissolved organics, for example, oil sands process-affected water, using petroleum coke is provided, comprising: removing petroleum coke from a coking operation; forming a petroleum coke/water slurry by adding the water to be treated to the petroleum coke; and mixing the slurry for a sufficient time in a carbon adsorption reactor to allow the petroleum coke to adsorb a substantial portion of the dissolved organics from the water.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering bitumen as froth from a feed stream having solids, water and bitumen is provided using a separating vessel having mounted thereon a downpipe assembly, the downpipe assembly having at least one downpipe and a nozzle in fluid communication with each downpipe, for aerating a stream of middlings withdrawn from the separating vessel and reintroducing the aerated middlings back to the separating vessel.