Patents by Inventor Barry Bara
Barry Bara has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240116793Abstract: A process for dewatering tailings having a solids content in the range of about 10 wt % to about 70 wt % is provided comprising fully flocculating the tailings by adding an effective amount of a polymeric flocculant to the tailings and mixing the polymeric flocculant and tailings in a mixing device to form fully flocculated tailings having a minimized capillary suction time (CST) and discharging the fully flocculated tailings into a deposition area at a discharge velocity of substantially zero to minimize further mixing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2022Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: BARRY BARA, RANDY MIKULA
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Publication number: 20230149944Abstract: A method for determining the source of a surface bitumen sheen in an end pit lake formed by water capping of oil sand tailings is provided comprising quantifying bitumen flux using ice core samples of the end pit lake. The high areas of bitumen flux indicate the areas of the end pit lake that should be dredged for reclamation of the end pit lake to prevent the formation of hydrocarbon sheen on the surface of the end pit lake. A method for evaluating reclamation of an end pit lake is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2022Publication date: May 18, 2023Inventors: Barry BARA, Richard PAPROSKI
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Patent number: 10907103Abstract: A process for extracting bitumen from mined oil sand is provided, comprising: preparing an oil sand slurry comprising oil sand and water; conditioning the oil sand slurry by pumping the oil sand slurry through a hydrotransport pipeline under shear conditions that reduce the formation of water-in-bitumen emulsions in the conditioned oil sand slurry and increase the size of bitumen-air aggregates; and subjecting the conditioned oil sand slurry to gravity separation to produce a bitumen froth having enhanced bitumen recovery and reduced water-in-bitumen emulsions, a middlings layer and sand tailings.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: SYNCRUDE CANADA LTD. in trust for the owners of the Syncrude Project as such owners exist now and in the futureInventors: Kevin Reid, Yin Ming Samson Ng, Barry Bara, Sujit Bhattacharya
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Publication number: 20200156969Abstract: A process for dewatering tailings is provided, comprising mixing the tailings with an effective amount of a flocculant to form flocculated tailings; providing a containment area having a water column therein; and depositing the flocculated tailings into the containment area such that the flocculated tailings pass through the water column to allow the flocs to form a compact structure at the bottom thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2019Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: RANDY MIKULA, ADEDEJI DUNMOLA, NAN WANG, BARRY BARA, JONATHAN SPENCE
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Publication number: 20200156083Abstract: A process for improving the dewatering characteristic of tailings is provided comprising adding flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) solids, produced when using calcium oxide to remove sulfur dioxide from flue gas or emissions, to the tailings.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2019Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: RANDY MIKULA, JONATHAN SPENCE, WARREN ZUBOT, BARRY BARA, JAMES LORENTZ
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Patent number: 10508241Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbon diluent from tailings comprising bitumen, particulate solids, hydrocarbon diluent and water, is provided comprising introducing the tailings into a high pressure stripping vessel operating at a pressure greater than 100 kPa; and introducing a stripping gas into the high pressure stripping vessel to strip the hydrocarbon diluent and water from the tailings and form a stripped tailings pool at the bottom of the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2017Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: SYNCRUDE CANADA LTD.Inventors: Sujit Bhattacharya, Barry Bara, Craig A. McKnight, Daniel John Bulbuc, George Cymerman
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Publication number: 20190309227Abstract: A process for extracting bitumen from mined oil sand is provided, comprising: preparing an oil sand slurry comprising oil sand and water; conditioning the oil sand slurry by pumping the oil sand slurry through a hydrotransport pipeline under shear conditions that reduce the formation of water-in-bitumen emulsions in the conditioned oil sand slurry and increase the size of bitumen-air aggregates; and subjecting the conditioned oil sand slurry to gravity separation to produce a bitumen froth having enhanced bitumen recovery and reduced water-in-bitumen emulsions, a middlings layer and sand tailings.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2019Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: KEVIN REID, YIN MING SAMSON NG, BARRY BARA, SUJIT BHATTACHARYA
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Publication number: 20180346818Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbon diluent from tailings comprising bitumen, particulate solids, hydrocarbon diluent and water, is provided comprising introducing the tailings into a high pressure stripping vessel operating at a pressure greater than 100 kPa; and introducing a stripping gas into the high pressure stripping vessel to strip the hydrocarbon diluent and water from the tailings and form a stripped tailings pool at the bottom of the vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2017Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: SUJIT BHATTACHARYA, BARRY BARA, CRAIG A. McKNIGHT, DANIEL JOHN BULBUC, GEORGE CYMERMAN
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Patent number: 9796930Abstract: A process for operating multiple oil sand mine sites for extracting bitumen from oil sand is disclosed, comprising preparing a first conditioned oil sand slurry at a first location using a first oil sand slurry preparation and slurry conditioning process; preparing a second conditioned oil sand slurry at a second location using a second oil sand slurry preparation and slurry conditioning process; combining the first conditioned oil sand slurry and the second conditioned oil sand slurry in at least one slurry distributor to produce a combined oil sand slurry; and distributing the combined oil sand slurry to at least one separation vessel to produce bitumen froth.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: SYNCRUDE CANADA LTD. in trust for the owners of the Syncrude Project as such owners exist now and in the futureInventors: Jonathan Spence, Yin Ming Samson Ng, Robert Siy, Barry Bara, Jun Long, Kevin Reid, James Lorentz, Shane Hoskins
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Patent number: 9656189Abstract: A process for dewatering oil sands tailings is provided, comprising providing a tailings feed having a solids content in the range of about 10 wt % to about 45 wt %; adding a flocculant to the tailings feed and mixing the tailings feed and flocculant to form flocs; and centrifuging the flocculated tailings feed to produce a centrate having a solids content of less than about 3 wt % and a cake having a solids content of at least about 50 wt %.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2012Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: SYNCRUDE CANADA LTD.Inventors: Jonathan Spence, Barry Bara, Jim Lorentz, Randy Mikula, Jiwon Lee, Richard Daniel Lahaie
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Publication number: 20170081592Abstract: A process for operating multiple oil sand mine sites for extracting bitumen from oil sand is disclosed, comprising preparing a first conditioned oil sand slurry at a first location using a first oil sand slurry preparation and slurry conditioning process; preparing a second conditioned oil sand slurry at a second location using a second oil sand slurry preparation and slurry conditioning process; combining the first conditioned oil sand slurry and the second conditioned oil sand slurry in at least one slurry distributor to produce a combined oil sand slurry; and distributing the combined oil sand slurry to at least one separation vessel to produce bitumen froth.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2015Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: JONATHAN SPENCE, YIN MING SAMSON NG, ROBERT SIY, BARRY BARA, JUN LONG, KEVIN REID, JAMES LORENTZ, SHANE HOSKINS
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Publication number: 20160362316Abstract: A method for monitoring and controlling flocculation of oil sands fine tailings in a pipeline is provided comprising injecting a polymeric flocculant into a tailings feed being pumped through the pipeline, mixing the polymeric flocculant and tailings feed in the pipeline, and providing one or more adjustable valves in the pipeline that are operable to either reduce the flow area of the adjustable valve to increase shear or dispersed energy when the polymeric flocculant and tailings feed are under-mixed or increase the flow area of the adjustable valve to decrease shear or dispersed energy when the polymeric flocculant and tailings feed are over-mixed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2016Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: BARRY BARA, RANDY MIKULA, JAMES LORENTZ
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Publication number: 20160310872Abstract: A feedwell system for use in a separation vessel is provided, comprising a substantially cylindrical chamber having a bottom floor with an opening therein; an inlet for introducing a feed stream into the substantially cylindrical chamber; and a deflector plate having a generally conical shape and spacedly position beneath the opening of the bottom floor, the deflector plate having at least one aperture therethrough; whereby the feed stream exits the opening of the bottom floor onto the deflector plate having at least one aperture therethrough.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2015Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventors: JONATHAN SPENCE, BARRY BARA, KONSTANTIN POUGATCH, DARWIN EDWARD KIEL, TREVOR LLOYD HILDERMAN
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Patent number: 9471971Abstract: A system for characterizing a slurry in a slurry process includes a flow tube, a camera, and a computer. The system is suitable for use with an oil sands extraction slurry processed or treated by an oil sands extraction slurry process. The slurry is diverted from the slurry process into the flow tube. The camera images the slurry as it flows through a transparent portion of the flow tube to produce a digital image of the slurry. The computer analyzes the digital image to determine a slurry characteristic. Based on the determined slurry characteristic, the computer may predict a performance metric of the slurry process and adjust an operating parameter of the slurry process to optimize the slurry process towards a target performance metric. Multiple systems may be used to continuously monitor slurry characteristics at upstream and downstream steps of the slurry process, and determine correlations between those characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: SYNCRUDE CANADA LTD.Inventors: Darcy Daugela, Barry Bara, Robert Skwarok, Rodney Ridley, Pat Dougan, Mark Polak
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Publication number: 20160289103Abstract: A process for dewatering tailings is provided comprising providing a tailings feed having a solids content in the range of about 10 wt % to about 70 wt %; adding an effective amount of a polymeric flocculant to the tailings feed and, optionally, mixing the polymeric flocculant and tailings feed mixture in a mixer; transporting the tailings feed and polymeric flocculant mixture to a deposition area; and optimizing the overall mixing and therefore dewatering rate of the tailings feed and polymeric flocculant mixture by controlling the conditions used for discharging the mixture to a deposition area.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: JAMES LORENTZ, BARRY BARA, RANDY MIKULA
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Publication number: 20160100135Abstract: A method for monitoring dewatering of flocculated oil sands tailings involves positioning an image capture device in a flow of flocculated oil sands tailing through a pipeline for acquiring images of the flocculated oil sands tailings; collecting the images of the flocculated oil sands tailings; and analyzing the one or more images to ensure production of optimum floc structures for maximum oil sands fine tailings dewatering.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventors: RANDY MIKULA, BARRY BARA, JAMES LORENTZ, RICHARD LAHAIE
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Publication number: 20160086321Abstract: A system for characterizing a slurry in a slurry process includes a flow tube, a camera, and a computer. The system is suitable for use with an oil sands extraction slurry processed or treated by an oil sands extraction slurry process. The slurry is diverted from the slurry process into the flow tube. The camera images the slurry as it flows through a transparent portion of the flow tube to produce a digital image of the slurry. The computer analyzes the digital image to determine a slurry characteristic. Based on the determined slurry characteristic, the computer may predict a performance metric of the slurry process and adjust an operating parameter of the slurry process to optimize the slurry process towards a target performance metric. Multiple systems may be used to continuously monitor slurry characteristics at upstream and downstream steps of the slurry process, and determine correlations between those characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2014Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: DARCY DAUGELA, BARRY BARA, ROBERT SKWAROK, RODNEY RIDLEY, PAT DOUGAN, MARK POLAK
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Publication number: 20150151990Abstract: A method for transporting flocculated tailings through a pipeline is provided comprising: adding an effective amount of a flocculant or a coagulant or a combination thereof to the mining tailings to form treated mining tailings comprising tailings flocs and release water; and injecting the treated mining tailings into the pipeline at a shear rate sufficient to form a self-lubricated core-annular flow of the treated mining tailings; whereby the release water forms a protective layer around the pipeline walls thereby reducing shearing of the tailings flocs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2014Publication date: June 4, 2015Inventors: BARRY BARA, RANDY MIKULA, CLARA GOMEZ, DARWIN KIEL, SEAN DELFEL
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Patent number: 9004294Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Syncrude Canada Ltd.Inventors: Barry Bara, Jonathan Spence, Jim Lorentz, Trevor Lloyd Hilderman, Chadwick Robert Larson, Darwin Edward Kiel
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Patent number: 8806774Abstract: A process of dewatering tailings is provided comprising mixing the tailings with a sufficient amount of an additive or a mixture thereof; depositing the resulting mixture into a disposal area; pumping water from the deposit to one or more sumps, and allowing the deposit to reach a sufficient strength; and removing remaining deposit water and rainfall through one or more of a network of ditches, a decant tower, or a plurality of dike drainage structures to yield a non-segregating deposit for reclamation.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Syncrude Canada Ltd.Inventors: James Lorentz, Barry Bara, Randy Mikula, Eric Leneve, Nan Wang