Abstract: This invention relates to a process of producing an upgraded product stream from the products of a resid visbreaking process to produce an improved feedstream for refinery and petrochemical hydrocarbon conversion units. This process utilizes an ultrafiltration process for upgrading select visbreaking process product streams to produce a conversion unit feedstream with improved properties for maximizing the conversion unit's throughput, total conversion, run-time, and overall product value.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to improved bitumen recovery processes and systems. In particular, the disclosure teaches processes and systems for recovering heavy crude oil while avoiding fouling of equipment by recycling at least a portion of a product bitumen from a solvent recovery unit for mixing with an overhead bitumen stream that may be a diluted bitumen stream containing solvent and bitumen. The overhead bitumen stream is a near-incompatible stream and the stream of mixed overhead bitumen stream and the treated bitumen stream is a compatible stream that will not foul equipment upon heating.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating a heavy hydrocarbon stream to produce at least one permeate product stream and at least one retentate product stream. The process utilizes an ultrafiltration process to designed to maximize the quality of the permeate and retenate product streams as well as process embodiments which improve permeate production quantities as well as improve the quality of the product streams obtained by the separations process. In preferred embodiments, the process includes configuration and operational parameters to maximize permeate yield and selectivity.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ultrafiltration process for separating a heavy hydrocarbon stream to produce an enriched saturates content stream(s) utilizing an ultrafiltration separations process. The enriched saturates content streams can then be further processed in refinery and petrochemical processes that will benefit from the higher content of saturated hydrocarbons produced from this separations process. The invention may be utilized to separate heavy hydrocarbon feedstreams, such as whole crudes, topped crudes, synthetic crude blends, shale oils, oils derived from bitumen, oils derived from tar sands, atmospheric resids, vacuum resids, or other heavy hydrocarbon streams into enriched saturates content product streams. The invention provides an economical method for separating heavy hydrocarbon stream components by molecular species instead of molecular boiling points.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of producing an upgraded product stream from steam cracker tar feedstream suitable for use in refinery or chemical plant processes or for utilization in fuel oil sales or blending. This process utilizes an ultrafiltration process for separating the steam cracker tar constituents resulting in a high recovery, low-energy process with improved separation and product properties.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of producing an upgraded product stream from the products of a resid visbreaking process to produce an improved feedstream for refinery and petrochemical hydrocarbon conversion units. This process utilizes an ultrafiltration process for upgrading select visbreaking process product streams to produce a conversion unit feedstream with improved properties for maximizing the conversion unit's throughput, total conversion, run-time, and overall product value.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method to determine if asphaltenes are soluble or insoluble in a solution. The solution may be a petroleum oil, a mixture of petroleum oils, petroleum derived oils and mixtures or similar combinations in a solvent. The invention includes the steps of illuminating the solution with a laser, measuring the small angle scattered light as a function of angle away from the laser beam, and determining if the asphaltenes are soluble or insoluble in the solution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for slowing the rise of air bubbles for large-scale applications such as bubble curtains for suppressing noise in marine seismic surveys. Bubble rise time is increased by a chemical additive which either retards bubble coalescence or produces smaller bubbles through wetting agent properties, or a combination of both.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method to determine if asphaltenes are soluble or insoluble in a solution. The solution may be a petroleum oil, a mixture of petroleum oils, petroleum derived oils and mixtures or similar combinations in a solvent. The invention includes the steps of illuminating the solution with a laser, measuring the small angle scattered light as a function of angle away from the laser beam, and determining if the asphaltenes are soluble or insoluble in the solution.

Abstract: The invention is a process for producing a mixture of wax and crude oil which can be pumped at ambient temperature. The wax is preferably a Fisher-Tropsch wax. The temperature of the crude oil is controlled to a level below the dissolution temperature of the wax. The wax crystals are homogenized and dispersed into the crude oil to form a mixture. The present invention prevents the wax from dissolving in the crude oil and subsequently re-crystallizing at lower temperatures which can substantially increase the viscosity of the mixture thereby decreasing the effectiveness of transporting the mixture.