US 11,702,598 B2
Method and systems for transporting bitumen in solidified form
James Auld, Calgary (CA); John Bleile, Calmar (CA); Kasra Nikooyeh, Edmonton (CA); Amanda Prefontaine, Legal (CA); Derek Stanger, Vancouver (CA); and Jesse White, Calgary (CA)
Assigned to Canadian National Railway Company, Montreal (CA)
Filed by Canadian National Railway Company, Montreal (CA)
Filed on Aug. 4, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/985,144.
Application 16/985,144 is a continuation of application No. 16/133,123, filed on Sep. 17, 2018, granted, now 10,738,245.
Application 16/133,123 is a continuation of application No. 15/436,244, filed on Feb. 17, 2017, granted, now 10,100,257, issued on Oct. 16, 2018.
Application 15/436,244 is a continuation of application No. 15/435,948, filed on Feb. 17, 2017, granted, now 10,125,321, issued on Nov. 13, 2018.
Application 15/435,948 is a continuation of application No. 15/436,292, filed on Feb. 17, 2017, granted, now 10,093,861, issued on Oct. 9, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/449,310, filed on Jan. 23, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/411,888, filed on Oct. 24, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/409,200, filed on Oct. 17, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/323,240, filed on Apr. 15, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/304,589, filed on Mar. 7, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0017452 A1, Jan. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. C10G 1/00 (2006.01); C08J 3/12 (2006.01); C08L 95/00 (2006.01)
CPC C10G 1/00 (2013.01) [C08J 3/126 (2013.01); C08L 95/00 (2013.01); C08J 2395/00 (2013.01); C08J 2423/06 (2013.01); C08L 2201/56 (2013.01); C08L 2207/062 (2013.01); C08L 2207/066 (2013.01); C08L 2207/53 (2013.01); C08L 2555/32 (2013.01); C08L 2555/86 (2013.01)] 40 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for dry bulk shipping bituminous material, comprising:
a) receiving in a dry bulk shipping container a pourable load of discrete pellets including bituminous material, the bituminous material including a mixture of crude oil refinery feedstock and an additive operating to increase viscosity of the bituminous material, wherein the crude oil refinery feedstock before being mixed with the additive to form the mixture is suitable for use as a feedstock to an oil refinery to separate the crude oil refinery feedstock into constituents that can be used as fuels and lubricants, the additive having a solubility in the crude oil refinery feedstock such that the crude oil refinery feedstock maintains compatibility with the oil refinery to allow separation of the crude oil refinery feedstock into said constituents,
wherein the pellets have non-stick outer surfaces configured to prevent the bituminous material from sticking to walls of the container when the pellets are carried in the container, whereby the load remains pourable while it is being transported in the container; and
b) transporting the dry bulk shipping container containing the pellets over a distance.