Method and apparatus for creating a slurry

A method of moving from a first site to a second site a slurry facility comprising a comminuting apparatus in communication with a slurry box, whereby comminuted ore is fed to the slurry box, and a frame comprising a base having a first set of spaced apart support points for supporting the frame in a stationary mode and a second set of spaced apart support points for supporting the frame in a moving mode, the second set of spaced apart support points being closer together than the first set of support points, comprising the steps of:

• a. in any order,
• i) emptying the slurry box and disconnecting electrical lines and water supplies and a hydrotransport line, and
• ii) deploying a moving device beneath the base to lift the frame,
• b. lifting the frame at the second set of support points,
• c. moving the slurry facility to the second site,
• d. lowering the slurry facility until it is supported on the first set of support points, and
• e. reconnecting the electrical lines and water supplies and the hydrotransport line.

A slurry apparatus for creating a slurry from oil sand ore, comprising

• a frame,
• a slurry box supported by the frame,
• a water supply in communication with the ore or the slurry box, whereby water is mixed with the ore to form a slurry that is retained in the slurry box,
• a screen disposed at an angle relative to the horizontal over an open top of the slurry box, and
• a crusher disposed above the screen, the crusher comprising at least one crushing wheel rotatably mounted a distance from the screen such that the at least one crushing wheel coacts with the screen to size the ore and force the sized ore through the screen.

A slurry apparatus for creating a slurry from oil sand ore, comprising

• a frame,
• a slurry box supported by the frame,
• a water supply in communication with the ore or the slurry box, whereby water is mixed with the ore to form a slurry that is retained in the slurry box,
• at least one sloped screen disposed at an angle relative to the horizontal over an open top of the slurry box,
• a primary crusher disposed above an upstream end of the sloped screen, and
• a secondary crusher disposed beneath a downstream end of the sloped screen,
• whereby the primary crusher sizes the ore and deposits the ore on the sloped screen so that sized ore falls through the screen into the slurry box, and the secondary crusher crushes oversized ore that falls off the downstream end of the sloped screen for deposit into the slurry box.

A slurry apparatus for creating a slurry from oil sand ore, comprising

• a frame,
• a slurry box supported by the frame,
• a water supply in communication with the ore or the slurry box, whereby water is mixed with the ore to form a slurry that is retained in the slurry box, and
• a pump assembly comprising first and second pumps disposed in series, an inlet of the first pump being in communication with an outlet of the slurry box, an outlet of the first pump being in communication with an inlet of the second pump, and an outlet of the second pump being in communication with a slurry outlet for connection to a hydrotransport conduit.