The present invention relates to a bitumen recovery process from oil sands. The oil sands may be surface mined and transported to a treatment area or may be treated directly by means of an in situ process of oil sand deposits that are located too deep for strip mining. Specifically, the present invention involves the step of treating oil sands with a composition comprising an alkanolamine and an ethylene oxide capped glycol ether and/or propylene oxide capped glycol ether.

A method and system for mine design utilising mathematical modelling and optimisation based on mathematical modelling of connected bubbles. A mathematical model, based on mathematical modelling of behavior of connected bubbles, is applied to the 3D block model for a mine to cluster geometric elements from the 3D block model based on physical location and properties of the physical material for each of the geometric elements, and selecting at least one set of a plurality of contiguous geometric elements for extraction based on the clustering. Each set of a plurality of contiguous blocks can be associated with a phase of a mining process.

A method and system for mine design utilising mathematical modelling and optimisation based on mathematical modelling of connected bubbles. A mathematical model, based on mathematical modelling of behavior of connected bubbles, is applied to the 3D block model for a mine to cluster geometric elements from the 3D block model based on physical location and properties of the physical material for each of the geometric elements, and selecting at least one set of a plurality of contiguous geometric elements for extraction based on the clustering. Each set of a plurality of contiguous blocks can be associated with a phase of a mining process.

The current invention relates to mining systems and mine planning and in particular, to operating a mine that automatically updates a mine plan. The mining system directs operation of mining equipment within a mine based on a mine plan that schedules operations in the mine. The system further includes a mining planning system for updating the mine plan by a learning module configured to determine an inferencing model from initial data obtained from a data input module. The inferencing model is then evaluated by an estimation module using the initial data and the measurement data wherein such evaluation provides a fusion model. Consequently, a mine planner module determines an updated mine plan based on an existing mine plan and the fusion model. Based on the updated mine plan, the mining system directs operation of the mining equipment within the mine.

The current invention relates to mining systems and mine planning and in particular, to operating a mine that automatically updates a mine plan. The mining system directs operation of mining equipment within a mine based on a mine plan that schedules operations in the mine. The system further includes a mining planning system for updating the mine plan by a learning module configured to determine an inferencing model from initial data obtained from a data input module. The inferencing model is then evaluated by an estimation module using the initial data and the measurement data wherein such evaluation provides a fusion model. Consequently, a mine planner module determines an updated mine plan based on an existing mine plan and the fusion model. Based on the updated mine plan, the mining system directs operation of the mining equipment within the mine.

Disclosed are a vehicle body utilized in a rockbreaker, a rockbreaker, and a rock breaking method. A rock breaking operation area is configured to pass through the vehicle body and in a direction perpendicular to and above the ground. An operation area of a rockbreaker arm is arranged within a vehicle range.

Disclosed are a vehicle body utilized in a rockbreaker, a rockbreaker, and a rock breaking method. A rock breaking operation area is configured to pass through the vehicle body and in a direction perpendicular to and above the ground. An operation area of a rockbreaker arm is arranged within a vehicle range.

A system for drilling to a position relative to a geological boundary in a geological formation includes a sensor pack for sensing parameters associated with a drilling operation carried out in the geological formation by a drill. A data storage module stores a geological model of the geological formation and data relating to the sensed parameters, including data relating to the geological boundary. A processor module monitors the drilling operation using the sensed parameters data to locate the position of a drill bit of the drill in the geological formation and its corresponding position within the geological model. The processor module generates an end point at a defined position relative to the geological boundary. A drill controller communicates with the processor module, the drill controller controlling operation of the drill to cause the drill to cease drilling when the end point has been reached.

A system for drilling to a position relative to a geological boundary in a geological formation includes a sensor pack for sensing parameters associated with a drilling operation carried out in the geological formation by a drill. A data storage module stores a geological model of the geological formation and data relating to the sensed parameters, including data relating to the geological boundary. A processor module monitors the drilling operation using the sensed parameters data to locate the position of a drill bit of the drill in the geological formation and its corresponding position within the geological model. The processor module generates an end point at a defined position relative to the geological boundary. A drill controller communicates with the processor module, the drill controller controlling operation of the drill to cause the drill to cease drilling when the end point has been reached.

A system and method for pit design that that operates directly on a geological model without creating a three dimensional block model thereby minimizing modeling dilution. A resource in a deposit may be divided into a set of base resource units that closely conform to the resource geometry and value distribution and that can be mined by the equipment assumed to perform the excavation. A resource increment (RI) is defined by a base resource unit and any resource and waste over the base resource unit which is assumed to be excavated in conformance with slope stability and safe practices forming an approximation of a truncated inverted cone. A systematic sorting and grouping process of the RIs iterates down a list of RIs and identifies RIs and/or RI groups that add value to the pit while excluding RIs and/or RI groups that do not add value. The sorting and grouping process operates on the recognition that, for RIs analyzed later in the RI list, the cost of intersections of waste overlaying the RIs base resource unit is carried by RIs analyzed earlier in the list. The sorting and grouping process allows intersecting RIs to be evaluated, grouped into RI groups, and either included or not included in the pit so that a maximum valued pit is defined. One aspect of the novel sorting and grouping process is the identification and grouping of interdependent RIs and RI groups. Another novel aspect of this pit design system is the application of over lapping RI bases with size defined large enough to represent the minimal accessible mining space for the equipment proposed. Larger sized bases should lead to reduction in the complexity of intersecting RIs and computational time. The end result is a model of the pit including a list of RIs and/or RI groups to include in the pit and resource and/or reserve statements.