Pan Canadian Petroleum Limited

Gulf Canada Corporation

Esso Resources Canada Limited

Canada-cities Service, Ltd.

Alberta Energy Company Ltd.

Petro-canada Exploration Inc.

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of Alberta, Government of

Hudson's Bay Oil and Gas Company Limited

Petrofina Canada Inc.

Jan Wojno

Lubomyr M Cymbalisty

Lloyd W Trevoy

Alvin J Maskwa

The invention provides a method and apparatus for sampling a frozen core of tar sand. The frozen core is first cut transversely along its length to form a pair of slabs of semi-circular cross-section. A longitudinal sample portion of substantially triangular cross-section is then cut from the central portion of the still frozen slab. The triangular sample portion is ground in a cryogenic grinder to produce a finely divided, substantially homogeneous material from which small representative sub-samples may be obtained. The triangular sample portion is cut from the slab by a pair of angularly disposed circular saws carried along the length of the slab. The slab is supported and held by cradle means which fix the flat face of the slab in a predetermined plane. The longitudinal sample portion thus formed has a triangular cross-section of substantially constant cross-sectional area.

Method and apparatus for sampling a core of tar sand

Growing community of inventors

Edmonton, Canada

Jan Wojno