Abstract: A device for mixing a substance within a container. A mixer includes a motor driven roller positioned between a pair of rods. A cylindrical tube is removably mounted against the roller and is rotatable therewith with the rods limiting sideways motion. The containers holding the materials to be mixed are inserted into the tube and rotated therewith. A frame is provided to hold multiple mixers.

Abstract: A modified paraffinic froth treatment (PFT) process is described, in which a fine tailings stream obtained from a water extraction process practiced on oil sands is added during the treatment process. This modified process may be useful as a treatment for the fine tailings stream, allowing for the flocculation of the fines, thus reducing the volume of such fine tailings. The modified process may also be useful in that the fine tailings stream can be used as a supplement or a replacement for dilution water, thus eliminating or reducing the need for dilution water in the PFT process.

Abstract: A modified paraffinic froth treatment (PFT) process is described, in which a fine tailings stream obtained from a water extraction process practiced on oil sands is added during the treatment process. This modified process may be useful as a treatment for the fine tailings stream, allowing for the flocculation of the fines, thus reducing the volume of such fine tailings. The modified process may also be useful in that the fine tailings stream can be used as a supplement or a replacement for dilution water, thus eliminating or reducing the need for dilution water in the PFT process.

Abstract: A process for tailings flocculation and dewatering is disclosed. In particular, disclosed is a method for generating chemically-induced micro-agglomerates (CIMA) of fine particles in a fluid tailings stream and using the micro-agglomerates to enhance tailings flocculation and dewatering.

Abstract: Processes are described for extracting hydrocarbon from a mineable deposit, such as bitumen from oil sands. The integration of solvent-based extraction processes with aqueous extraction processes is described. In one embodiment, water is removed from an aqueous bituminous feed that is then directed into a solvent-based extraction process. In another embodiment, a stream produced through solvent extraction is directed into a water-based extraction process. In the solvent-based extraction processes, agglomeration of fines may be employed to simplify subsequent solid-liquid separation. The process permits recovery of hydrocarbon that has conventionally may have been too difficult to recover from oil sands processing, and thus has previously been lost. Advantageously, a fungible product can be formed more efficiently according to certain integrated processes described herein.

Abstract: Processes and systems are described for solvent extraction of bitumen from oil sands. Fines agglomeration is employed to simplify subsequent separation. A high quality bitumen product can be formed, which meets or exceeds downstream processing and pipeline requirements. An embodiment comprises combining a first solvent and a bituminous feed to form an initial slurry, which is optionally separated into fine solids and coarse solids. Slurry solids are agglomerated. A low solids bitumen extract from the agglomerated slurry is mixed with a second solvent having a similar or lower boiling point than the first. The mixture is separated, solvent recovered, and a high grade bitumen product is formed. Exemplary systems comprise a mixbox, agglomerator, separator unit with optional countercurrent washer and deep cone settler, and TSRU. Processes are provided for fractionating a hydrocarbon fluid into heavier and lighter fractions. The lighter fraction may be used in solvent extraction of bitumen.

Abstract: A process is described for pre-treating an aqueous bituminous feed for downstream bitumen extraction. The process involves removing water from an aqueous bituminous feed having a water content of 60% or more by weight. After water is removed, an effluent comprising 40% water or less is formed, and is ready for downstream extraction. In the downstream extraction process, a dual solvent extraction process may be employed, incorporating agglomeration of fines to simplify subsequent solid-liquid separation. The process permits recovery of hydrocarbon that has conventionally remained in waste streams from oil sands processing, and thus has conventionally been lost. In one embodiment, removing water comprises subjecting the aqueous bituminous feed to a primary water separation system to reduce the water content of the feed, followed by subsequent water removal, thereby producing an effluent having a water content of 40% or less, which can then go on to further processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for removing sulfur from sulfur-containing hydrocarbon streams utilizing a multi-ring aromatic hydrocarbon complex containing an alkali metal ion. Preferably, the sulfur-containing hydrocarbon stream is comprised of high molecular weight hydrocarbons, such as a low API gravity, high viscosity crude, tar sands bitumen, an oil derived from shale, or heavy refinery intermediate stocks such as atmospheric resids or vacuum resids which are typically difficult to desulfurize and contain relatively high amounts of sulfur. However, intermediate refinery streams and refinery product streams may also be treated by the process of the current invention to achieve very low sulfur concentrations to meet environmental specification for fuels sulfur content.

Abstract: An apparatus system and methods are presented for best match search. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of functional modules configured to collect user profile information and a service provider criterion, match a service provider profile to at least one of the user profile information and the service provider criterion, calculate a service provider statistic based on service provider data associated with a selected service provider, and generate service provider comparison data in response to the service provider statistic. In the described embodiments, these modules include a profile collection module, a profile match module, a provider analyzer, and a provider comparison module.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for removing sulfur from sulfur-containing hydrocarbon streams utilizing a multi-ring aromatic hydrocarbon complex containing an alkali metal ion. Preferably, the sulfur-containing hydrocarbon stream is comprised of high molecular weight hydrocarbons, such as a low API gravity, high viscosity crude, tar sands bitumen, an oil derived from shale, or heavy refinery intermediate stocks such as atmospheric resids or vacuum resids which are typically difficult to desulfurize and contain relatively high amounts of sulfur. However, intermediate refinery streams and refinery product streams may also be treated by the process of the current invention to achieve very low sulfur concentrations to meet environmental specification for fuels sulfur content.

Abstract: A process for production of sweet heavy crude oil is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of: removing contaminants from heavy oil, bitumen or bitumen froth to form a substantially dewatered deasphalted oil; and subsequent desulfurization of the substantially dewatered deasphalted oil using sodium metal desulfurization to produce a sweet heavy crude oil. The step of removing contaminants is conducted using extraction with a paraffinic solvent.

Abstract: A water stream containing hardness minerals is subjected to a water treatment process using an alkali agent to precipitate the hardness minerals and to produce a softened water stream is used to create an integrated water treatment and flue gas desulfurization process. Thereafter, the softened, alkaline water stream is utilized in a scrubber to scrub a flue gas containing sulfur dioxide to produce a sulfur-lean flue gas. The invention may be applied to a steam-based bitumen recovery operation where bitumen, sour produced gas or other sulfur containing fuels are burned for producing steam for bitumen recovery. More specifically, the associated produced water from the bitumen recovery process may be softened for re-use and for utilization as a scrubbing agent for high-sulfur containing flue gas arising from the steam generators. The process provides an economically favorable process while minimizing waste disposal requirements.

Abstract: A water stream containing hardness minerals is subjected to a water treatment process using an alkali agent to precipitate the hardness minerals and to produce a softened water stream is used to create an integrated water treatment and flue gas desulfurization process. Thereafter, the softened, alkaline water stream is utilized in a scrubber to scrub a flue gas containing sulfur dioxide to produce a sulfur-lean flue gas. The invention may be applied to a steam-based bitumen recovery operation where bitumen, sour produced gas or other sulfur containing fuels are burned for producing steam for bitumen recovery. More specifically, the associated produced water from the bitumen recovery process may be softened for re-use and for utilization as a scrubbing agent for high-sulfur containing flue gas arising from the steam generators. The process provides an economically favorable process while minimizing waste disposal requirements.

Abstract: Steam is injected into the reservoir, heats the reservoir to mobilize and recover at least a fraction of reservoir hydrocarbons, forming a steam chamber in the reservoir. The steam is continuously injected into the reservoir to mobilize and recover reservoir hydrocarbons therefrom until at least one of (i) an upper surface of the chamber has progressed vertically to a position that is approximately 25 percent to 75 percent the distance from the bottom of the injection well to the top of the reservoir, and (ii) the recovery rate of the hydrocarbons is approximately 25 percent to 75 percent of the peak predicted recovery rate using steam-assisted gravity drainage. A viscosity-reducing hydrocarbon solvent is injected into the reservoir, the solvent being capable of existing in vapor form in the chamber and being just below the solvent's saturation pressure in the chamber, mobilizing and recovering additional hydrocarbons from the reservoir.

Abstract: A process for recovery of hydrocarbons from an underground reservoir penetrated by an injection well and a production well spaced from the injection well, the process comprising:

Abstract: A method of fabricating a microelectronic device package is provided. The method includes a continuous processing mode of microelectronic device packages wherein process steps for fabricating the microelectronic device package are performed resulting in savings from the removal of more expensive batch processing steps.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a microelectronic device package is provided. The method includes a continuous processing mode of microelectronic device packages wherein process steps for fabricating the microelectronic device package are performed resulting in savings from the removal of more expensive batch processing steps.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated, continuous process for the removal of organically bound sulfur (e.g., mercaptans, sulfides and thiophenes) comprising the steps of contacting a heavy oil, sodium hydroxide, hydrogen and water at a temperature of from about 380.degree. C. to 450.degree. C. to partially desulfurize the heavy oil and to form sodium sulfide, contacting said sodium sulfide via steam stripping to convert the sodium sulfide to sodium hydroxide and the sulfur recovered as hydrogen sulfide. The sodium hydroxide is recirculated for reuse. The partially desulfurized, dewatered heavy oil is treated with sodium metal under desulfurizing conditions, typically at a temperature of from about 340.degree. C. to about 450.degree. C., under a hydrogen pressure of at least about 50 psi to essentially desulfurize the oil, and form sodium sulfide. Optionally, the sodium salt generated can be regenerated to sodium metal using regeneration technology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous in-situ process for the removal from heavy oils, of organically bound sulfur in the form of mercaptans, sulfides and thiophenes, heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and oxygen and metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, vanadium and iron, comprising the steps of (a) contacting a heavy oil with aqueous sodium hydroxide at a temperature of about 380.degree. to about 450.degree. C. for a time sufficient to form sodium sulfide; (b) contacting said sodium sulfide of step (a) with water and a transition metal for a time and at a temperature sufficient to form transition metal sulfide, sodium hydroxide, hydrogen and impurities; and (c) recirculating said sodium hydroxide from step (b) to step (a) and removing said transition metal sulfide and said impurities, wherein said impurities are iron, vanadium and nickel. Optionally, molecular hydrogen may be added in the first step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous in-situ process for the removal of organically bound sulfur existing as mercaptans, sulfides and thiophenes comprising the steps of (a) contacting a heavy oil with aqueous sodium hydroxide at a temperature of about 380.degree. C. to about 450.degree. C. for a time sufficient to form sodium sulfide, and (b) steam stripping the sodium sulfide of step (a) at a temperature sufficient to convert said sodium sulfide to sodium hydroxide and recirculating the sodium hydroxide from step (b) back to step (a) and removing hydrogen sulfide and the metals from the organically bound metal complex of the sodium sulfide to convert it back to sodium hydroxide, in which case the sulfur may be recovered as H.sub.2 S rather than the metal sulfide. Optionally, molecular hydrogen may be added in the first step. The present invention is useful in removing organically bound sulfur that has been recognized to be difficult to remove, such as thiophenes.