Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material – With separation of materials
Patent
1977-11-22
1979-09-11
Novosad, Stephen J.
Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material
With separation of materials
299 17, E21C 3706, E21C 4110
Patent
active
041672925
ABSTRACT:
A low temperature freezing fluid and method are used for year-round wearing away of bitumen deposits, such as those of the Athabaska Tar Sands, by a softening and/or abrasion process. Relatively small size particles of bitumen and its associated foreign matter are produced which enable separation of bitumen at greater speed, efficiency and thoroughness than present methods. Water solutions of calcium chloride having a freezing point down to -46.degree. F. and a specific gravity greater than that of bitumen are used as the fluid. Since bitumen deposits vary considerably in physical properties; optimum softening and/or abrasion efficiency and reduced particle size are achieved by either heating the fluid to 212.degree. F. to soften or refrigerating it to -46.degree. F. to harden the bitumen prior to spraying it at high velocity onto the deposit. At times, faster rates of softening and/or abrasion and reduced particle size are achieved by incorporating abrasion particles in the fluid. The fluid conveys bitumen, foreign matter and abrasion particles to a pool from which they are pumped to on site conditioning and separation tanks. After separation into components, bitumen and fluid are combined and pumped to a refinery wherein they are separated and bitumen upgraded to synthetic crude oil. The foreign matter and abrasion particles are pumped together with fluid to either an on site tailings pond or to recycle equipment. The fluid is recycled.
REFERENCES:
patent: 172157 (1876-01-01), O'Farrell
patent: 1418098 (1922-05-01), Schneiders
patent: 1935643 (1933-11-01), Laughlin
patent: 2063761 (1936-12-01), Scholz
patent: 3081828 (1963-03-01), Quick
patent: 3375886 (1968-04-01), Goodwin et al.
patent: 3529868 (1970-09-01), Hogg
patent: 3554602 (1971-01-01), Chaney
patent: 3874733 (1975-04-01), Poundstone et al.
patent: 3934935 (1976-01-01), Lambly et al.
patent: 3951457 (1976-04-01), Redford
patent: 3957308 (1976-05-01), Lambly et al.
patent: 4046197 (1977-09-01), Gruesbeck, Jr. et al.
Novosad Stephen J.
Suchfield George A.
LandOfFree
Method of using a low temperature freezing softening and abrasio does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of using a low temperature freezing softening and abrasio, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of using a low temperature freezing softening and abrasio will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-475608