Jet pump treatment of heavy oil production sand
AssigneeCanadian Environmental Equipment & Engineering Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDiana L. Bacon, Patrick J. Cochrane, Wade R Bozak, Roderick M. Facey
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Abstract
A process for separating oily films from sand particles carried in a solvent free water stream includes the use of a jet pump scrubber in a density classification tank to treat such oily coated particles at controlled operating temperatures above 65° C. whereby, at such controlled temperature, enhanced cavitation in the jet pump separates the oily film from the sand particles to form slop oil, the tank providing for recirculation of the particles through the jet pump before discharge.
Claims36
In a process for separating oily films from sand particles carried in a solvent free water medium, the use of a jet pump scrubber in a density classification tank to treat such oily coated particles at controlled operating temperatures for said medium at about above 65° C., said jet pump scrubber comprises a jet nozzle, scrubber chamber and a target, said water at said operating temperature carrying incoming sand particles to be treated being forced through said jet nozzle at high velocity toward an entrance to said scrubber chamber, said high velocity jet drawing surrounding tank contained medium of water and treated sand particles at said operating temperature into said scrubber chamber, said water at operating temperature expediting formation of water vapor bubbles at sand particle surfaces which implode rapidly during enhanced water cavitation occurring in said scrubber chamber, said rapid bubble implosion removing oily film from said particles, said tank providing for recirculation of sand particles through said jet pump before discharge.
A jet pump scrubber tank assembly for use in separating oily films from sand particles;
- said assembly comprising:
- i) a tank having a vertical mid-section, a divergent upper section and a convergent lower section;
- ii) means for injecting an air stream into said upper section to facilitate floating of slop oil separated from sand particles;
- iii) a jet pump scrubber mounted in said mid-section adjacent said bottom and comprising a jet nozzle, scrubber chamber and a target which are aligned and extend transversely of said tank,
- iv) means for injecting a heated aqueous medium in the region of said jet pump scrubber;
- v) means for measuring differential pressure between tank positions in said mid-section and in said bottom section;
- and
- vi) means for controlling said heated aqueous medium injection means based on input from said differential pressure measuring means.
A processing facility for removing an oily residue from sand particles, said facility comprising:
- i) a hopper for receiving oily coated sand, means for injecting steam and water to heat said sands and separate oils therefrom, means for injecting air into said hopper to float separated oils;
- ii) a pump for transferring said sand particles with an oily film to a jet pump scrubber in a tank assembly comprising:
- a) a tank having a vertical mid-section, a divergent upper section and a convergent lower section;
- b) means for injecting an air stream into said upper section to facilitate floating of slop oil separated from sand particles;
- c) a jet pump scrubber mounted in said mid-section adjacent said lower section and comprising a jet nozzle, scrubber chamber and a target which are aligned and extend transversely of said tank;
- d) means for injecting a heated aqueous medium in the region of said jet pump scrubber.
A water treatment system for desalting process waters from a sand washing facility, the system comprising:
- i) solid/liquid classification vessel with means for fluidizing sand in a bottom portion of said vessel;
- ii) a jet pump for transferring sand from said vessel to a solid/liquid separator;
- iii) a water distillation unit and means for transferring liquid from the separator to said distillation unit;
- iv) a fresh water storage tank and means for transferring distilled water from said distillation unit to said storage tank;
- v) means for withdrawing fresh water from said storage tank and pressurizing said water to provide motive power for said jet pump and provide fresh water for said fluidizing means for the vessel bottom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.