Method and systems for transporting bitumen in solidified form

A method of moving bituminous material from a first location to a second location comprising:

• a) collecting a plurality of pellets in a transport chamber at the first location, wherein each pellet in the plurality of pellets comprises non-volatile bituminous material formed into an irregular solid defined by a plurality of non-planar surfaces configured to reduce surface contact with adjacent pellets to mitigate against caking of the plurality of pellets in the transport chamber;
• b) transporting the transport chamber and plurality of pellets therein to the second location by vehicle;
• and
• c) environmentally controlling the transport chamber such that each pellet remains substantially solid during transport.

A method of moving bituminous material from a first location to a second location comprising:

• a) providing a transport chamber comprising an environmental control system;
• b) collecting a plurality of pellets in the transport chamber at the first location, wherein each pellet in the plurality of pellets comprises non-volatile bituminous material formed into an irregularly shaped solid defined by a plurality of non-planar faces configured to reduce surface contact with adjacent pellets to mitigate against caking of the plurality of pellets in the transport chamber;
• c) transporting the transport chamber and the plurality of pellets collected therein to the second location with a vehicle;
• and
• d) with the environmental control system, environmentally controlling the transport chamber during transport such that each pellet in the plurality of pellets remains substantially solid.