The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 2013
Filed:
May. 16, 2005
Mahmood Mir Sarshar, Beaconsfield, GB;
Ali Najam Miraz Beg, Milton Keynes, GB;
Carl Wordsworth, Bedford, GB;
Mahmood Mir Sarshar, Beaconsfield, GB;
Ali Najam Miraz Beg, Milton Keynes, GB;
Carl Wordsworth, Bedford, GB;
Caltec Limited, Bedford, GB;
Abstract
A system for the production or handling of heavy oil comprises means () for introducing an immiscible viscosity-reducing fluid into the heavy oil at an upstream end of a flow line () to create a dispersion of oil and viscosity-reducing fluid, and means () for separating the viscosity-reducing fluid at least partially from the oil at a downstream end of the flow line. The separating means comprises a cyclonic fluid conditioning unit () connected receive the dispersion of oil and viscosity-reducing fluid from the downstream end of the flow line (), said cyclonic fluid conditioning unit being constructed and arranged to subject the dispersion to a cyclonic conditioning process; and a gravity separator unit () connected to receive the conditioned dispersion from the cyclonic fluid conditioning unit. The gravity separator unit () is constructed and arranged to allow at least partial separation of the viscosity-reducing fluid from the oil and has a first outlet for the separated viscosity-reducing fluid and a second outlet for the separated oil.