Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

David Carl Rennard

Robert D Kaminsky

Ken N Sury

Scott R Clingman

Payman Esmaeili

Wei Ren

Christopher C H Lin

Thomas R Palmer

Shahram Yazdanpanah

Systems and methods for remediating an initially liquid-like slurry pond include distributing one or more floating wicks into the slurry pond, wherein the slurry pond includes a slurry with a supernatant level above the slurry. A method also includes placing a load on the slurry, wherein the load causes an effective stress on the slurry and aids in dewatering the slurry.

Floating wicks for slurry consolidation

Systems and methods for dewatering mine tailings. The systems and methods include distributing a slurry of high permeability material on a sloped surface to define a high permeability layer and subsequently distributing a slurry of low permeability mine tailings on the high permeability layer to define a low permeability layer that is vertically above and in contact with the high permeability layer. The sloped surface defines a non-zero surface grade, and natural slopes of both the slurry of high permeability material and the slurry of low permeability mine tailings are within a threshold grade difference of the surface grade. In some embodiments, the systems and methods may include augmenting the slurry of high permeability material and/or augmenting the slurry of low permeability mine tailings to adjust the natural slope thereof.

Systems and methods for dewatering mine tailings

Methods of separating a viscous hydrocarbon from an ore are conducted at an oil extraction facility. The methods include transporting a slurry to a separation vessel. The transport may take place substantially without the use of an air compressor and without the injection of air into the slurry along a hydro-transport line. The methods also include mixing a plurality of beads into the slurry. The beads have a specific gravity that is less than about 0.95. The beads are used in lieu of air. The beads have an outer oleophilic surface for retaining oil, thereby aiding in the separation process. The beads are substantially coated with bitumen prior to introduction to the slurry. The method then includes separating the slurry into a first solution comprising primarily bitumen and the oleophilic beads, and a second solution comprising primarily water and sand.

Methods for separation of bitumen from oil sands

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Houston, TX, United States of America

David Carl Rennard