A method and system for separating a suspension into solid and fluid components. The suspension is centrifuged about a substantially vertical axis of rotation to concentrate solid components in a first lower flow stream and fluid components in a first upper flow stream. The first upper flow stream may be centrifuged about a substantially vertical axis of rotation to concentrate solid components in a second lower flow stream and fluid components in a second upper flow stream. The first lower flow stream, the second lower flow stream, or both, may be centrifuged about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation to separate water from stackable dry tailings. The method and system may be applied to separation of tailings or other suspensions.

A method and system for separating a suspension into solid and fluid components. The suspension is centrifuged about a substantially vertical axis of rotation to concentrate solid components in a first lower flow stream and fluid components in a first upper flow stream. The first upper flow stream may be centrifuged about a substantially vertical axis of rotation to concentrate solid components in a second lower flow stream and fluid components in a second upper flow stream. The first lower flow stream, the second lower flow stream, or both, may be centrifuged about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation to separate water from stackable dry tailings. The method and system may be applied to separation of tailings or other suspensions.

Methods are provided for separation of bitumen from oil sands ore having a bitumen content higher than about 6%. Activated carbons, or combinations of activated carbons and caustic are used as process additives for ore-water slurry-based bitumen extraction processes or in situ bitumen recovery processes. These additives promote breakdown of adhesion between clay minerals and bitumen, resulting in the enhanced efficiency of extraction of bitumen from oil sands ore.

Methods are provided for separation of bitumen from oil sands ore having a bitumen content higher than about 6%. Activated carbons, or combinations of activated carbons and caustic are used as process additives for ore-water slurry-based bitumen extraction processes or in situ bitumen recovery processes. These additives promote breakdown of adhesion between clay minerals and bitumen, resulting in the enhanced efficiency of extraction of bitumen from oil sands ore.

A system and method for extracting liquid and solid hydrocarbons and their derivatives from natural and man-made hydrocarbon sources, including but not limited to oil sands, bitumen, asphalt, roofing shingles, and other hydrocarbon articles of manufacture. The hydrocarbon sources are prepared by dissolving, crushing and/or grinding. The prepared hydrocarbon sources are subjected to agitation where the solvent and hydrocarbon source as thoroughly mixed. The results of the agitation are then separated in one or both of a mesh screen shaker and a centrifuge. The mesh screen shaker subjects the materials to medium frequency oscillations. The centrifuge subjects the materials to high G-forces. The combined processes separate the hydrocarbons from solids and residual solids to less than 0.2% by weight.

A system and method for extracting liquid and solid hydrocarbons and their derivatives from natural and man-made hydrocarbon sources, including but not limited to oil sands, bitumen, asphalt, roofing shingles, and other hydrocarbon articles of manufacture. The hydrocarbon sources are prepared by dissolving, crushing and/or grinding. The prepared hydrocarbon sources are subjected to agitation where the solvent and hydrocarbon source as thoroughly mixed. The results of the agitation are then separated in one or both of a mesh screen shaker and a centrifuge. The mesh screen shaker subjects the materials to medium frequency oscillations. The centrifuge subjects the materials to high G-forces. The combined processes separate the hydrocarbons from solids and residual solids to less than 0.2% by weight.

A modular quality improvement process and quality improvement system for high density coal measures oil shale. The process comprises: performing separation on the material with a particle size larger than 13 mm by an air dense medium fluidized bed, performing separation on the material with a particle size equal to or less than 13 mm and larger than 6 mm by an air dense medium fluidized bed, performing separation on the material with a particle size equal to or less than 6 mm and larger than 3 mm by a vibrated dense medium fluidized bed, and performing separation on the material with a particle size equal to or less than 3 mm by a vibrated fluidized bed, and recovery of a medium by magnetic separation for use as a circulating medium.

A method for recovering fine tailings from a tailings pond includes selecting a desired density of fine tailings to be removed from the tailings pond. Positioning a hollow shell having a closed bottom and holes formed through a sidewall of the shell within the tailings pond such that the holes are located at a depth of a layer of the fine tailings of the desired density and such that a top of the shell is disposed above a free water surface of the pond. Causing a flow of the fine tailings of the desired density through the holes into into the shell and removing the fine tailings of the desired density from within the shell.

A method for recovering fine tailings from a tailings pond includes selecting a desired density of fine tailings to be removed from the tailings pond. Positioning a hollow shell having a closed bottom and holes formed through a sidewall of the shell within the tailings pond such that the holes are located at a depth of a layer of the fine tailings of the desired density and such that a top of the shell is disposed above a free water surface of the pond. Causing a flow of the fine tailings of the desired density through the holes into into the shell and removing the fine tailings of the desired density from within the shell.

An apparatus for washing solid particles removed from a hydrocarbon-containing fluid produced from an oil and gas production facility using a company automated unit. The apparatus comprises an inlet that carries a mixture of solids particles and water flushed from a de-sander.