In an aspect, a method of decontaminating a hydrocarbon fluid comprises applying an ultrasonic wave to the hydrocarbon fluid in a storage tank to maintain or reduce an amount of a microorganism in the storage tank; wherein a source of the ultrasonic wave is located within the storage tank and the storage tank has at least one of an inner volume of greater than or equal to 20 meters cubed and/or that is capable of storing 55 to 160,000 liters of the hydrocarbon fluid. In another aspect, a method of decontaminating a hydrocarbon fluid comprises applying an ultrasonic wave to the hydrocarbon fluid to disrupt a cell membrane of a microorganism to form a disrupted microorganism and to reduce a particle size of the disrupted microorganism to be less than or equal to 1.5 micrometers thereby forming a clean hydrocarbon fluid suitable for injecting through an injection nozzle.

In an aspect, a method of decontaminating a hydrocarbon fluid comprises applying an ultrasonic wave to the hydrocarbon fluid in a storage tank to maintain or reduce an amount of a microorganism in the storage tank; wherein a source of the ultrasonic wave is located within the storage tank and the storage tank has at least one of an inner volume of greater than or equal to 20 meters cubed and/or that is capable of storing 55 to 160,000 liters of the hydrocarbon fluid. In another aspect, a method of decontaminating a hydrocarbon fluid comprises applying an ultrasonic wave to the hydrocarbon fluid to disrupt a cell membrane of a microorganism to form a disrupted microorganism and to reduce a particle size of the disrupted microorganism to be less than or equal to 1.5 micrometers thereby forming a clean hydrocarbon fluid suitable for injecting through an injection nozzle.

The invention relates to a method of producing monodisperse amidomethylated vinylaromatic bead polymers, to ion exchangers prepared from these monodisperse amidomethylated vinylaromatic bead polymers by alkaline hydrolysis, to the method of using said monodisperse amidomethylated vinylaromatic bead polymers in the manufacture of ion exchangers and chelating resins, and also to the method of using these ion exchangers in the removal of heavy metals and noble metals from aqueous solutions or gases.

The invention relates to a method of producing monodisperse amidomethylated vinylaromatic bead polymers, to ion exchangers prepared from these monodisperse amidomethylated vinylaromatic bead polymers by alkaline hydrolysis, to the method of using said monodisperse amidomethylated vinylaromatic bead polymers in the manufacture of ion exchangers and chelating resins, and also to the method of using these ion exchangers in the removal of heavy metals and noble metals from aqueous solutions or gases.

Methods and compositions for flocculating solids are provided. The solids may be suspended in an organic liquid medium and a water in oil emulsion may be added to the liquid medium. The water in oil emulsion includes an emulsion polymer capable of flocculating the solids suspended in the organic liquid medium. The emulsion polymer may be added to the organic liquid medium in an inactive form and the polymer may subsequently become activated upon contacting the organic liquid medium. Once activated, the polymer may flocculate the suspended solids.

Methods and compositions for flocculating solids are provided. The solids may be suspended in an organic liquid medium and a water in oil emulsion may be added to the liquid medium. The water in oil emulsion includes an emulsion polymer capable of flocculating the solids suspended in the organic liquid medium. The emulsion polymer may be added to the organic liquid medium in an inactive form and the polymer may subsequently become activated upon contacting the organic liquid medium. Once activated, the polymer may flocculate the suspended solids.

A water washing method and system for a crude oil tank. The water washing method includes inputting washing water into the crude oil tank; injecting high-pressure water to the lower portions of the crude oil tank such that the sludge mixes with the washing water; and discharging mixture water in which the sludge is mixed with the washing water from the crude oil tank.

A water washing method and system for a crude oil tank. The water washing method includes inputting washing water into the crude oil tank; injecting high-pressure water to the lower portions of the crude oil tank such that the sludge mixes with the washing water; and discharging mixture water in which the sludge is mixed with the washing water from the crude oil tank.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for recovering mature fine tailings (MFT) from oil sands tailings ponds. Some examples include a hollow, fully enclosed around its perimeter, ideally of cylindrical form, open bottom structure (a hollow conduit), of predetermined geometry, which is placed at the pond surface. The hollow conduit can penetrate MFT deposits to or below a level at which MFT of required density is located. A width or diameter of the hollow conduit can be determined with respect to the MFT inflow velocity and the corresponding shear rate, so as to enable MFT flow into the hollow conduit at a rate matching a rate at which the MFT is removed from the pond (e.g., a recovery rate). An MFT fill level inside the hollow conduit can be kept constant and equal to a required fill level throughout MFT recovery operations. MFT can enter the hollow conduit during MFT recovery operations solely under action of hydraulic head pressure. MFT can be transferred from within the hollow conduit utilizing a mechanical device such as a pump or a siphon, for transfer to shore based facilities and further processing.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for recovering mature fine tailings (MFT) from oil sands tailings ponds. Some examples include a hollow, fully enclosed around its perimeter, ideally of cylindrical form, open bottom structure (a hollow conduit), of predetermined geometry, which is placed at the pond surface. The hollow conduit can penetrate MFT deposits to or below a level at which MFT of required density is located. A width or diameter of the hollow conduit can be determined with respect to the MFT inflow velocity and the corresponding shear rate, so as to enable MFT flow into the hollow conduit at a rate matching a rate at which the MFT is removed from the pond (e.g., a recovery rate). An MFT fill level inside the hollow conduit can be kept constant and equal to a required fill level throughout MFT recovery operations. MFT can enter the hollow conduit during MFT recovery operations solely under action of hydraulic head pressure. MFT can be transferred from within the hollow conduit utilizing a mechanical device such as a pump or a siphon, for transfer to shore based facilities and further processing.