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 coated gas bubble for recovering oil from oil-containing samples is provided, comprising a gas bubble and a coating mixture comprising a hydrophobic coating agent and a coating promoting additive, wherein the coating promoting additive is present in an amount sufficient to promote the substantially continuous coating of the gas bubble with the hydrophobic coating agent. A method for forming such coated gas bubbles and a method for recovering oil from oil-containing samples using coated gas bubbles is further provided.

Abstract: A process and process line is provided for recovering heat in the form of cleaned warm water and residual bitumen from oil sand tailings produced during an oil sands extraction process. The process includes removing at least a portion of the coarse solids from the oil sand tailings to produce a reduced solids tailings fraction; separating at least a portion of the bitumen from the reduced solids tailings fraction to produce a bitumen fraction and a warm water and fines fraction; and removing at least a portion of the fines from the warm water and fines fraction to produce cleaned warm water and a concentrated fines fraction. The cleaned warm water can then be reused in the oil sands extraction process.