公开(公告)号：US09708206B2

公开(公告)日：2017-07-18

申请号：US14408695

申请日：2013-06-21

Applicant: SUNCOR ENERGY INC.

Inventor： Trevor Bugg ,  Ana Sanchez ,  Adrian Revington ,  James Patrick Macaulay

IPC: C02F1/56 ,  B01D12/00 ,  C10G7/04 ,  C02F1/52 ,  C10G1/04 ,  C02F103/10

CPC classification number: C02F1/56 ,  B01D12/00 ,  C02F1/5209 ,  C02F1/5281 ,  C02F2103/10 ,  C02F2209/11 ,  C02F2209/40 ,  C10G1/045 ,  C10G7/04

Abstract: Techniques are described that relate to enhancing flocculation and dewatering of thick fine tailings, for example by reducing process oscillations. One example method includes dispersing a flocculant into thick fine tailings having a turbulent flow regime to produce turbulent flocculating tailings; subjecting the turbulent flocculating tailings to shear to build up flocs and increase yield stress, to produce a flocculated material having a non-turbulent flow regime; and shear conditioning the flocculated material to decrease the yield stress and produce conditioned flocculated tailings within a water release zone; and dewatering the conditioned flocculated tailings, for example by employing sub-aerial deposition. The thick fine tailings may have a Bingham Reynolds Number of at least 40,000 upon flocculant addition. Inhibiting process oscillations may include providing turbulent tailings feed, configuring a downstream pipeline assembly to reduce backpressure fluctuations and/or reducing air content in the flocculant solution, for example.

公开(公告)号：US11267730B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-08

申请号：US16661855

申请日：2019-10-23

Applicant: SUNCOR ENERGY INC.

Inventor： Marvin Weiss ,  Ana Sanchez ,  Trevor Bugg ,  Adrian Revington

IPC: B01D21/01 ,  C02F1/52 ,  B09B3/00 ,  C10G1/04 ,  G06F30/13 ,  B01D21/28 ,  B01D21/30 ,  C02F103/10

Abstract: Various techniques are provided in relation to flocculation and/or dewatering of thick fine tailings, with shear conditioning of flocculated tailings material in accordance with a pre-determined shearing parameter, such as the Camp Number. One example method of treating thick fine tailings including dispersing a flocculant into the thick fine tailings to form a flocculating mixture; shearing the flocculating mixture to increase yield stress and produce a flocculated mixture; shear conditioning the flocculated mixture to decrease the yield stress and break down flocs, the shear conditioning being performed in accordance with the pre-determined shearing parameter to produce conditioned flocculated material within a water release zone where release water separates from the conditioned flocculated material. The conditioned flocculated material can then be subjected to dewatering, for example by depositing, thickening or filtering. The design, construction and/or operation of a flocculation pipeline assembly can be facilitated.

公开(公告)号：US10899969B2

公开(公告)日：2021-01-26

申请号：US14408690

申请日：2013-06-21

Applicant: SUNCOR ENERGY INC.

Inventor： Adrian Revington ,  Ana Sanchez ,  Trevor Bugg ,  Oladipo Omotoso

IPC: C10G1/04 ,  E21B43/34 ,  C02F1/52 ,  E21B21/06 ,  B09C1/08 ,  C02F1/56 ,  F26B1/00 ,  B01D21/01 ,  C02F103/10 ,  B03D3/06

Abstract: Techniques for dewatering thick fine tailings may include one or more pre-treatment steps, such as pre-shearing to reduce the yield stress prior to flocculation, hydrocarbon removal below a threshold to improve flocculation and dewatering, flocculant dosing on a clay basis, and providing certain properties of the thick fine tailings related to coarse and fine particle sizes and/or chemistry such as divalent cation content. Various advantages may result from pre-treatments based on thick fine tailings properties, such as reduced flocculant dosage requirements, improved dispersion of flocculant into the thick fine tailings and/or enhanced dewatering, for example. One or more of the pre-treatments may be performed.