Abstract: The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feedstock that utilizes a short residence pyrolytic reactor operating under conditions that cracks and chemically upgrades the feedstock. The method for upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock comprises introducing a particulate heat carrier into an upflow reactor, introducing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock into the upflow reactor at a location above that of the particulate heat carrier so that a loading ratio of the particulate heat carrier to feedstock is from about 15:1 to about 200:1, allowing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock to interact with the heat carrier with a residence time of less than about 1 second, to produce a product stream, separating the product stream from the particulate heat carrier, regenerating the particulate heat carrier, and collecting a gaseous and liquid product from the product stream.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to the upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feedstock. The systems of the present disclosure provides for improved reactor geometries to create more efficient processing and upgrading of the feedstocks. The reactor geometry may be varied by the addition of periodic bumps on the reactor walls and/or by the tapering of the diameter of the upflow reactor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy petroleum oils of high viscosity and low API gravity that are typically not suitable for pipelining without the use of diluents.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for separation in processing of feedstocks are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a tubular vessel having a square pipe entry and a vapor outlet, wherein the vapor outlet is positioned at the top of the tubular vessel, and wherein the square pipe entry is tangential to an inner diameter of the tubular vessel; a barrel positioned below the tubular vessel; and a double isolation knife valve positioned between the tubular vessel and the barrel, wherein a stream of gas and solids enters the tubular vessel through the square pipe entry, and wherein the gas and solids are separated by using centrifugal force, and wherein the gas exits the vapor outlet and the solids are collected in the barrel.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for lift gas distribution are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a lift gas distributor comprises a plate having a surface and an underside, the plate having a first diameter; a center section of the plate having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter; a predetermined number of holes having a third diameter drilled into the surface of the plate, the holes drilled at an angle, the holes evenly distributed in the center section; and a plurality of tubes welded onto the underside of the plate, each tube having a predetermined length, wherein each tube is welded onto each hole. Lift gas passes through the tubes and holes into a reactor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feedstock that utilizes a short residence pyrolytic reactor operating under conditions that cracks and chemically upgrades the feedstock. The process of the present invention provides for the preparation of a partially upgraded feedstock exhibiting reduced viscosity and increased API gravity. This process selectively removes metals, salts, water and nitrogen from the feedstock, while at the same time maximizes the yield of the liquid product, and minimizes coke and gas production. Furthermore, this process reduces the viscosity of the feedstock in order to permit pipeline transport, if desired, of the upgraded feedstock with little or no addition of diluents.