Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8101068 | Constant specific gravity heat minimization A process of regulating the water content of water-fluidized oil sand ore during processing of the ore is disclosed. The weight (mo) of a sample charge of oil sand ore having a bulk volume (Vt) is determined. The inter granular voids of the sam... | 01/24/2012 |
| 7837864 | Process for extracting bitumen using light oil An integrated process for extracting and refining bitumen comprises hydroconverting bitumen in a reactor to provide valuable products and light oil by-product; separating the light oil by-product from the valuable products; transporting the light oil to oil sands re... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7763166 | Relocatable countercurrent decantation system A process line for separating oil sand slurry comprising coarse solids, fines, bitumen and water, into a first product comprising bitumen, fines and water and a second product comprising coarse solids, fines and water is provided comprising a plurality of countercur... | 07/27/2010 |
| 7594996 | Petroleum recovery and cleaning system and process A system and process are provided for recovering and/or cleaning residual or waste petroleum products such as sludge accumulated within a storage tank or upon process equipment surfaces, or from inorganic materials such as sand or clay, and the like. The system and ... | 09/29/2009 |
| 7588682 | Process and apparatus for enhanced recovery of oil from oily particulate material An apparatus and process are described for processing oily particulate material. The process allows for recovery of the oil and separation of the water from the sand in the oily particulate material. The process involves transferring the oily particulate material in... | 09/15/2009 |
| 7438807 | Bituminous froth inclined plate separator and hydrocarbon cyclone treatment process Discloses apparatus to perform a process to remove water and minerals from a bitumen froth output of a oil sands hot water extraction process. A bitumen froth feed stream is diluted with a solvent and supplied to a primary inclined plate separator stage, which separ... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7438189 | Bituminous froth inclined plate separator and hydrocarbon cyclone treatment process An apparatus for separating bitumen from a bitumen froth output of a oil sands hot water extraction process comprises an inclined plate separator (IPS) for providing a first bitumen separation stage and a cyclone for providing a second bitumen separation stage. The ... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7416671 | Separation and recovery of bitumen oil from tar sands A process for the separation of bitumen oil from tar sands and the like. Slurry is supplied to a mixing chamber of a jet pump at an input end of the process. The slurry is agitated within the jet pump to effect a partial to full phase separation of the oil fraction ... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7357857 | Process for extracting bitumen Bitumen extraction done using a process comprising: (a) preparing a bitumen froth comprising particulate mineral solids and hydrocarbons dispersed in aqueous lamella in the form of an emulsion; (b) adding a sufficient amount of a paraffinic solvent to the froth to i... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7338593 | Drilling fluid A drilling fluid for use in high oil viscosity formations containing tar, sand and oil entrained therein. The drilling fluid can be comprised of a polymer in an amount from between 0.05% and 5% by volume, a solvent in an amount from between 1% and 20% by volume and ... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7318845 | Compact distillates fuel processor with effective sulfur removal process A distillate fuel steam reformer system in which a fuel feed stream is first separated into two process streams: an aliphatics-rich, sulfur-depleted gas stream, and an aromatics- and sulfur-rich liquid residue stream. The aliphatics-rich gas stream is desulfurized, ... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7294156 | Integrated process for bitumen recovery, separation and emulsification for steam generation The invention relates to a process for splitting bitumen into two fractions and rendering a heavier bottom fraction as a useable emulsion fuel. The process is particularly effective in creating an alternate fuel to natural gas in a steam-based bitumen recovery proce... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7290353 | System for making dried singulated crosslinked cellulose pulp fibers This invention provides a dried singulated crosslinked cellulose pulp fiber product as well as an apparatus and a method for forming singulated, crosslinked, and dried fibers. In accordance with the process, a feed pulp containing a crosslinker is delivered to a jet... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7172738 | Methods and apparatus for processing mixtures of liquids and solids One embodiment provides for a liquids/solids reaction vessel configured to contain a mixture of at least one liquid and at least one solid. The vessel includes a closed perimeter wall defined by an effective height, and a bottom connected to the closed perimeter wal... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7141162 | Bituminous froth inclined plate separator and hydrocarbon cyclone treatment process Discloses apparatus to perform a process to remove water and minerals from a bitumen froth output of a oil sands hot water extraction process. A bitumen froth feed stream is diluted with a solvent and supplied to a primary inclined plate separator stage, which separ... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7118631 | Method for separating substances from particulate solids A method for separating a substance such as a hydrocarbon from a particulate material such as soil is provided. An aqueous slurry is formed and a shear force is applied to the slurry, such as in a reversible helical screw conveyor, while the slurry is vibrated. The ... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7111739 | Wet fine particle sizing and separating apparatus A particle sizing and separating apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a base and a frame that is movably connected to the base. A motor assembly is provided to vibrate the frame and at least two screens are connected to the frame. Means also are provided f... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7090768 | Surfactant for bitumen separation A surfactant for separating bitumen from sand includes an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide contacted with low rank coal. The low rank coal is preferably lignite. The surfactant may be used to clean bitumen, heavy oil and/or tar from sand, shale or clay at low c... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7008528 | Process and system for continuously extracting oil from solid or liquid oil bearing material A process for continuously extracting oil from a solid or liquid oil-bearing material comprises (a) removing air from the extraction system, (b) introducing an inert gas into the extraction system at a pressure sufficient to maintain a normally gaseous solvent in li... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6904919 | Apparatus and method for separating substances from particulate solids A method for separating a substance such as a hydrocarbon from a particulate material such as soil is provided. An aqueous slurry is formed and a shear force is applied to the slurry, such as in a reversible helical screw conveyor, while the slurry is vibrated. The ... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6746599 | Staged settling process for removing water and solids from oils and extraction froth Diluent-diluted bitumen froth containing bitumen and naphtha diluent, hydrocarbons, water, sand and fines (collectively “dilfroth”) is fed into a vapor-tight gravity settler (‘splitter’) and temporarily retained to produce a bottom layer of tails comprising ... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6547960 | Oil separating apparatus for oil containing substance and method therefor An oil component separating apparatus for an oil containing substance can solve a problem of inflammability and can separate oil component and solid substance simply at low cost. The oil component separating apparatus for a oil containing substance includ... | 04/15/2003 |
| 6527960 | Jet pump treatment of heavy oil production sand A process for separating oily films from sand particles carried in a solvent free water stream includes the use of a jet pump scrubber in a density classification tank to treat such oily coated particles at controlled operating temperatures above 65° C. ... | 03/04/2003 |
| 6358403 | Process for recovery of hydrocarbon from tailings A process for recovery of hydrocarbon diluent from tailings produced in a bitumen froth treatment plant comprises introducing the tailings into a vacuum flash vessel maintained at a sufficiently low sub-atmospheric pressure to vaporize the major portion o... | 03/19/2002 |
| 6358404 | Method for recovery of hydrocarbon diluent from tailing A method for recovery of hydrocarbon diluent from tailings produced in a bitumen froth treatment plant comprises introducing the tailings into a steam stripping vessel maintained at near atmospheric pressure, said vessel having a plurality of interior, ve... | 03/19/2002 |
| 6274030 | Filtration of feed to integration of solvent deasphalting and gasification The invention is a process of removing solids, particularly catalyst fines, from an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon liquid. The process comprises contacting an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon liquid with a solvent to create a mixture. The solvent is t... | 08/14/2001 |
| 6214213 | Solvent process for bitumen seperation from oil sands froth A paraffinic solvent is mixed with bitumen froth containing water and solids. Sufficient solvent is added to induce inversion when the mixture is subjected to gravity or centrifugal forces. The emulsion reports to the water phase and a dry bitumen product... | 04/10/2001 |
| 6074549 | Jet pump treatment of heavy oil production sand In a process for separating oily films from sand particles carried in a sent free water stream, the use of a jet pump scrubber in a density classification tank to treat such oily coated particles at controlled operating temperatures above 65° C. whereby... | 06/13/2000 |
| 6007708 | Cold dense slurrying process for extracting bitumen from oil sand Average grade oil sand is mixed with water to produce a low temperature (20-35° C.), dense (1.4-1.65 g/cc) slurry. The slurry is pumped through a pipeline for sufficient time to condition it. Air is injected into the slurry after the last pump. The slurr... | 12/28/1999 |
| 6007709 | Extraction of bitumen from bitumen froth generated from tar sands A process for the extraction of bitumen from bitumen froth generated from tar sands is presented. In this process bitumen froth, extracted from tar sands using a water process not requiring the use of caustic soda, is treated in a counter-current decantat... | 12/28/1999 |
| 5985138 | Tar sands extraction process A hot water extraction process for extracting bitumen from tar sands is taught wherein the tar sand is conditioned using an alkali metal bicarbonate, an alkali metal carbonate and a liquid hydrocarbon. A source of calcium and/or magnesium ions can also be... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5871637 | Process for upgrading heavy oil using alkaline earth metal hydroxide The present invention relates to a continuous in-situ process for reducing the viscosity, corrosivity and density of heavy oils comprising the steps of (a) contacting a heavy oil with an aqueous alkaline earth, Group IIA metal hydroxide at a temperature o... | 02/16/1999 |
| 5795444 | Method and apparatus for removing bituminous oil from oil sands without solvent A system and method for immediately separating oil sands into three layers uses a logwasher with paddles that mixes the oil sands with hot water and steam. The three layers of bitumen, clay/sand/water slurry and rock separate effectively and immediately a... | 08/18/1998 |
| 5795464 | Conversion of the organic component from tar sands to lower boiling products A process for the thermal conversion of the organic component associated with tar sands to lower boiling, higher value products. The conversion is achieved by subjecting the organic component containing from about 1 to 20 wt. % native solids to elevated t... | 08/18/1998 |
| 5770049 | Tar sands extraction process A hot water extraction process for extracting bitumen from tar sands is taught using a conditioning agent containing an alkali metal bicarbonate and an alkali metal carbonate. A source of calcium and/or magnesium ions can also be added. The conditioning a... | 06/23/1998 |
| 5762780 | Method and apparatus for removing bituminous oil from oil sands without solvent A system and method for immediately separating oil sands into three layers uses a logwasher with paddles that mixes the oil sands with hot water and steam. The three layers of bitumen, clay/sand/water slurry and rock separate effectively and immediately a... | 06/09/1998 |
| 5746909 | Process for extracting tar from tarsand Tar is separated and recovered from tarsands using an extraction process useful even in cold water which utilizes a liquid admixture of a high boiling alkane; e.g. naphtha, an anionic surfactant and water.... | 05/05/1998 |
| 5723042 | Oil sand extraction process A method for processing lumps of oil sand containing bitumen to produce a bitumen froth and non segregating tailings of a solid material and a sludge. The method includes depositing the lumps of oil sand into a bath of warm water. The lumps are then condi... | 03/03/1998 |
| 5690811 | Method for extracting oil from oil-contaminated soil A method for extracting oil from oil-contaminated soil containing 2 to 5 wt. % oil, comprising contacting the oil-contaminated soil with a solvent in the presence of sonic energy in the frequency range of 0.5 to 2.0 kHz. Specifically, a solvent is first m... | 11/25/1997 |
| 5645714 | Oil sand extraction process A method for processing lumps of oil sand containing bitumen to produce a bitumen froth and non segregating tailings of a solid material and a sludge. The method includes depositing the lumps of oil sand into a bath of warm water. The lumps are then condi... | 07/08/1997 |
