Method and apparatus for sampling a core of tar sand
US4372174A · kind A · utility
Assignees
- Petro-Canada Exploration, Inc.
- Her Majesty the Queen in right of the Province of Alberta, Government of the Province of Alberta, Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Alberta Syncrude Equity
- Pan Canadian Petroleum Limited
- Esso Resources Canada Limited
- Canada-Cities Service, Ltd.
- Gulf Canada Limited
- Alterra Energy, LLC
- Hudson's Bay Oil and Gas Company Limited
- Petrofina Canada Inc.
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 4, 1981 |
| Grant date | Feb 8, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T83/7693
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.