Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension comprising introducing into the suspension a flocculating system comprising a poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer, in particular a copolymer of ethylene oxide and one or more epoxy or glycidyl ether functionalized hydrophobic monomer. Said poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers are useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries. The invention is particularly suitable for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension comprising introducing into the suspension a flocculating system comprising a poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer, in particular a copolymer of ethylene oxide and one or more silane- or siloxane-functionalized glycidyl ether monomer. Said poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers are useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries. The invention is particularly suitable for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for flocculating and dewatering oil sands fine tailings. Said method comprises mixing the aqueous mineral suspension with a poly(ethylene oxide) (co)polymer to form a dough-like material. The material is then dynamically mixed in an in-line reactor to break down the dough-like material to form microflocs having an average size of 1 to 500 microns, and to release water. The internal diameter of the in-line reactor is at most five times the internal diameter of the inlet pipe of the reactor. The suspension of microflocs has a viscosity of at most 1000 cP and a yield stress of at most 300 Pa.
Abstract:
The hydration of clays and shale in drilling operations may be inhibited by employing an aqueous based drilling fluid comprising a shale hydration inhibition agent having the formula: (I), R is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbons; R1 may be the same or different than R and is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbons or a hydroxy alkyl group comprising n number of carbons wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10 and n−1 hydroxyl groups; R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbons; R3 may be the same or different than R2 and is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbons or a hydroxy alkyl group comprising n number of carbons wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10 and n−1 hydroxyl groups, with the proviso that R3 is not the same as R1; and X is an anion. The shale hydration inhibition agent should be present in the aqueous based drilling fluid in sufficient concentration to reduce the reactivity, such as swelling, of clays and shale when exposed to water-based drilling fluids.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a composition and a method for cementing a casing in a borehole of a well using an aqueous cementing composition comprising (a) water, (b) a cementing composition comprising (i) a hydraulic cement, (ii) a hydrophobically modified polymer, (iii) a dispersant, and optionally (iv) one or more other additives conventionally added to aqueous cementing compositions useful in cementing casings in the borehole of wells. Preferably the hydrophobically modified hydroxyethyl cellulose has an ethylene oxide molar substitution of from 0.5 to 3.5, a hydrophobe degree of substitution of from 0.001 to 0.025, and a weight-average molecular weight of from 500,000 to 4,000,000 Daltons and the dispersant is sulfonated polymer, melamine formaldehyde condensate, a naphthalene formaldehyde condensate, a branched or non-branched polycarboxylate polymer. Preferably, the aqueous cementing composition is pumped downwardly into said casing, pumped upwardly into the annulus surrounding said casing until said aqueous composition fills that portion of the annular space desired to be sealed, and then maintaining said aqueous cementing composition in place until the cement sets.
Abstract:
The hydration of clays and shale in drilling operations may be inhibited by employing an aqueous based drilling fluid comprising a shale hydration inhibition agent having the formula: (Formula I should be inserted here.) wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbons, R1 is an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbons, and R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbons. The shale hydration inhibition agent should be present in the aqueous based drilling fluid in sufficient concentration to reduce the reactivity, such as swelling, of clays and shale when exposed to water-based drilling fluids.