Patent ID: 8851293

Claim:
A method of forming a slurry from an oil sand ore, the method comprising: contacting the oil sand ore with an ore processor bed having a frame supporting a plurality of spaced apart rotatable elements disposed over an upper opening of a slurry vessel, the ore processor bed operative to comminute the oil sand ore and to produce a granular material while screening and sorting the oil sand ore from an oversize material unsuitable for slurry formation in the slurry vessel, the plurality of spaced apart rotatable elements comprising at least four rotatable elements, the frame comprising an elongated upper portion of the ore processor bed formed at least in part by the plurality of spaced apart rotatable elements; spraying a solvent over and along the elongated upper portion of the ore processor bed while transporting the oil sand ore by the plurality of spaced apart rotatable elements to comminute the oil sand ore and to produce the granular material while screening and sorting the oil sand ore from oversize material; allowing the granular material to fall through interstitial spaces of the plurality of spaced apart rotatable elements into the slurry vessel; and delivering water into the slurry vessel such that the water contacts the granular material to form the slurry.