Hydraulic mining of tar sands with submerged jet erosion
US4437706A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 3, 1981 |
| Grant date | Mar 20, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 3, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/40
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
Bitumen is separated and recovered from tar sands deposits by use of special hydraulic mining techniques. One or more jets of hydraulic mining fluid are projected by a nozzle or nozzles against a face of a tar sands deposit and advanced towards the face as the face erodes under the jetting action. Sand and bitumen separate, due to the jetting action, and are removed from the eroding area by the flow of hydraulic fluid which is cycled to a recovery zone for separation of fluid, sand, and bitumen. Fluid is recycled, bitumen recovered, and sand disposed of as backfill. Advance of a single nozzle is varied by lateral diversion to erode over a wider area of the face and increase the volume eroded by a single advancing jet.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.