Mocal Energy Limited

Petro-canada

Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd.

Gulf Canada Resources Limited

Murphy Oil Company Ltd.

Imperial Oil Resources

Pan Canadian Petroleum Limited

Esso Resources Canada Limited

Alberta Energy Company Ltd.

Nexen Corporation

Hbog-oil Sands Limited Partnership

Aec Oil Sands, L.p.

Athabasca Oil Sands Investments, Inc.

National Research Council of Canada

Syncrude Canada Ltd.

Edward W Chan

Adam J Bennett

Brian Knapper

Deepak M Kirpalani

Kevin A Jonasson

Terence E Base

Steven McDougall

Robert S MacTaggart

Douglas A Emberley

R Douglas Kennett

Thomas William Mccracken

Terrence E Base

Zahra Moradi Tafreshi

A bitumen/steam pre-mixer and atomizing nozzle combine to produce a jet of minute liquid droplets (bitumen) in carrier gas (steam). The jet is injected into a draft tube mixer positioned in a fluid bed of hot coke particles suspended in steam and contained within a fluid coking reactor. The movement of the jet through the draft tube passageway induces a stream of coke particles in steam to be drawn into the passageway, where the jet and stream mix vigorously and bitumen droplets have an enhanced probability of contacting coke particles.

Nozzle/mixer assembly

Mixing means, for producing a flow mixture of oil and steam, is combined with an atomizing nozzle to provide a nozzle assembly which produces a jet of very fine oil droplets. The nozzle assembly is used in conjunction with a reactor, such as a fluidized bed coker. The mixing means comprises a pipe, external of the reactor, having separate, spaced apart inlets for oil and steam. The steam inlet is upstream of the oil inlet. A reducing diameter nozzle is positioned in the pipe bore between the inlets, for accelerating the steam. The steam contacts the oil and turbulently moves down the pipe bore to produce what is known as a 'bubbly flow' mixture. The mixture is fed to the nozzle, which is internal of the reactor. The nozzle has: an inlet; a first contraction section of reducing diameter for accelerating the flow, preferably to supersonic velocity, whereby the droplets are reduced in size; a diffuser section of expanding diameter wherein the mixture decelerates and a shock wave may be induced; a second contraction section operative to accelerate the mixture more than the first contraction section; and an orifice outlet for producing a jet or spray. The nozzle assembly has been shown to reduce droplet size from about 12,000 .mu.m to about 300 .mu.m.

Nozzle for atomizing liquid in two phase flow

Middlings from the primary separation vessel ('PSV') are recycled through a line to the PSV. The middlings are aerated with fine air bubbles using in line eductor/aerator assemblies. The aerated middlings are mixed as they are pumped through a line back to the PSV. Bitumen recovery from the PSV is increased as a result.

Oil sand extraction process with in-line middlings aeration and recycle

Growing community of inventors

Edmonton, Canada

Edward W Chan