FEED STREAM CONDITIONING TO PROMOTE SEPARATION OF HYDROCARBON FLUID FROM PARTICULATE MATTER IN A FROTH SETTLING UNIT

摘要

Feed stream conditioning to promote separation of hydrocarbon fluid from particulate matter in a froth settling unit, and froth settling units and separation methods including the same are disclosed herein. The methods include providing a feed stream to a feed barrel of the froth settling unit and injecting a high-power impinging water stream into the feed barrel. The methods further include combining the feed stream and the high-power impinging water stream to produce an inlet stream for the froth settling unit, flowing the inlet stream into an internal volume of the froth settling unit, and permitting the particulate matter and the water to at least partially separate from the hydrocarbon fluid within the froth settling unit. The methods further include discharging an overflow stream from an upper region of the froth settling unit and discharging an underflow stream from a lower region of the froth settling unit.