Abstract: Methods, processes and devices are described for measuring a volatile content of a process stream that comprises volatile species, such as light hydrocarbons and/or H2S. The method can include introducing a stripping gas into a sample of the process stream to strip the volatiles therefrom and produce a gas phase comprising vaporized volatiles; detecting the vaporized volatiles in the gas phase to obtain a sample volatile content; and determining the volatile content of the process stream based on the sample volatile content. The method and device can be used to measure a light hydrocarbon content of froth treatment tailings in the context of removing such light hydrocarbons prior to flocculating and dewatering the tailings.

Abstract: Methods, processes and devices are described for measuring a volatile content of a process stream that comprises volatile species, such as light hydrocarbons and/or H2S. The method can include introducing a stripping gas into a sample of the process stream to strip the volatiles therefrom and produce a gas phase comprising vaporized volatiles; detecting the vaporized volatiles in the gas phase to obtain a sample volatile content; and determining the volatile content of the process stream based on the sample volatile content. The method and device can be used to measure a light hydrocarbon content of froth treatment tailings in the context of removing such light hydrocarbons prior to flocculating and dewatering the tailings.

Abstract: A method of sequentially transporting a first and a second fluid at a volumetric flow rate through a conduit having a cross-section, wherein the first and second fluids have different densities, which method comprises the steps of estimating a critical stratification condition for a fluid density profile along the conduit, which condition takes into account the densities of the first and second fluids, the cross-section of the conduit and the volumetric flow rate, and wherein violating the critical stratification condition likely results in stratification of fluids to occur; and feeding sequentially only first fluid, a buffer fluid and only second fluid into the conduit, wherein the buffer fluid has a density between the densities of the first and second fluids, such that a density profile of fluid along the conduit is provided, which does not violate the critical stratification condition.